Thiruvonathoni gets grand welcome

Boat with vegetables for Onam feast

The ceremonial reception accorded to the Thiruvonathoni on its arrival at the Sree Parthasarathy Temple ghats in river Pampa at Aranmula on Monday morning.

Thiruvonathoni, the temple boat of Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula, which carries vegetables and other articles for the Onam feast, was given a rousing reception at the temple ghats in a ceremonial procession from Kattoor, near Ranni, on Monday morning.

The Garuda-faced decorated vessel that set off from the Maha Vishnu Temple ghats in the Pampa at Kattoor reached the Parthasarathy Temple ghats at daybreak.

Custom has it that the eldest member of the Mangattu Illom at Kumaranalloor in Kottayam, whose ancestors had migrated from Kattoor, escorts the Thiruvonathoni, from Kattoor Kama Vishnu Temple ghats to Aranmula. M.R.Narayana Bhattathiri, senior-most member of the Mangattu Illom at Kumaranalloor in Kottayam district, escorted the Thiruvonathoni toor to Aranmula.

Mr Bhattathiri reached Kattoor in a specially designed canoe from Kumaranalloor in Kottayam on Sunday to escort the Thiruvonathoni to Aranmula.for the Onasadya

. A fleet of Palliyodams (snakeboats) escorted the temple vessel. The Onasadya at Parthasarathy Temple was prepared with the materials brought from Kattoor and the feast was served to the devotees immediately after the Utchapuja.

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