Elaborate arrangements have been made in the district to conduct the bali rituals during Karkidaka Vavu that falls on August 11. Tens of thousands of devotees are expected to offer ‘bali’ at various locations in Kollam, including Thirumullavaram, Mundakkal Papanasini, and Ashtamudi Sree Veerabhadra Swamy Temple.
The rituals will begin at 6 p.m. at Thirumullavaram Sri Maha Vishnu Swami Temple, for which the temple authorities have arranged over 50 licensed priests. At the pandal erected on the BSNL ground more than 500 devotees can perform the ritual at a time.
Nearly 15 lifeguards will be deployed on the beach during the ritual and over 50 CCTV cameras will be installed in the ghats and temple premises, said the temple authorities here on Thursday.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has also set up a huge pandal that can accommodate over 500 devotees at Thirumullavaram. The VHP leaders said they had readied 10,000 balitarpan kits with all puja ingredients and more than 100 volunteers would help the devotees during the ritual that starts at 8.30 p.m. on Friday.
Arrangements are also in place at Mundakkal Papanasam beach for balitarpan and thilahomam. Fifteen priests under Tantritadathil Matom T.K. Chandrasekhara Swami will oversee the rituals. The SNDP Yogam will also organise special pujas, cultural events, and a trade fair on Friday evening.
In Ashtamudi Sree Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, the ritual will start at 4 a.m. and end by 3.30 p.m., said the temple authorities. Astrologer and tantric scholar Vanmala P.V. Vishwanathan will be the celebrant and various pujas, including thilahomam, will be administered under the supervision of temple chief priest N.Sukumaran and priest Harikumar. Extra arrangements have been made at the temple for women. Special KSRTC services will operate to the temple from Kollam, Kundara, and Anchalumoodu depots on Saturday from 5 a.m.
Traffic will be diverted in the city and parking facilities will be provided near all main locations.
