Kerala gears up for Sivarathri

The auspicious day of fast for the Hindus, the Maha Sivarathri has arrived. The State has geared up for the day, Friday this year, with the major destinations, Aluva, Thrissur and Thrippunithura, as it is believed that Lord Shiva blesses his worshippers on this day.

The age-old practice is that during night, the worshippers practice abstinence from all bad habits and worship Shiva if possible until dawn.

Preparations have been completed at the Aluva Manappuram, which attracts the maximum number of devotees of Lord Shiva in the State on the day. The main aspect of Sivarathri observance here is the bali tharpanam, for which the authorities of the Shiva temple here have arranged 300 balitharas, spots for offering bali.

However, there are concerns of the conveniences for the devotees here as the waters of River Periyar, on the banks of which the bali is offered by devotees after taking a dip in the river, remains muddy. The turbidity in the river was caused by the discharge of de-silted water from the Kallarkutty dam by the Kerala State Electricity Board authorities.

The turbidity has already raised alarm among people of Ernakulam district who depend on the river for drinking water. Cases of jaundice have been reported from various places in Kochi city and surrounding areas, but Health authorities have not yet linked the spread of the disease to the turbidity of Periyar water.

The preparations at the temple town of Thrissur were almost completed on Thursday itself.

Celebrations at the Peruvanam temple in Cherpu have already started with the Krishnanatttam performance held on Wednesday by the Guruvayur Devaswom. On Thursday, at Peruvanam the traditional art form of Nangyarkoothu performed by Usha Nangiar after the Niramala ad Deeparadhana was reportedly organised.

The Aksharasloka sadas by Kundoor Samaraka Sadas, Chathushathakam offering, Lakshadeepam, thayambaka and Ashtapadi are the other attractions on the Sivarathri day.

There will be a ‘double thayambaka’ in the evening, said organisers. A dance fiesta, abhishekam, athazhapooja, offering for the deities of Erattayappan and Madathilappan and the procession will follow, at the temple, praised in the Manipravalam work, Chandrotsavam.