Special poojas, bali tharpan mark Sivarathri in Kerala

Hindus in Kerala celebrated Maha Sivarathri with special poojas and festivals at various Siva temples on Friday. Several Siva temples in central Kerala celebrated their annual festivals on Sivarathri day.

Thousands thronged the Mahadeva temple at Aluva and the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur, the two major temples as far as Sivarathri observance is concerned.

Despite concerns of the hygienic condition of waters of Periyar which has been muddy for the past two weeks, thousands thronged the Manappuram in Aluva, to worship the Lord and also to offer bali to their dear departed. As those come to for the bali tharpan here have to take a dip in Periyar before the performance of the rite, the turbidity of the waters had caused worries.

However, temple authorities had assured that the water’s muddiness would not cause any problem for those reached for bali tharpan.

Special poojas at the Aluva Mahadeva Temple started with Abhishekam at 04.00 am Friday. Special Sivarathri Pooja was performed in the night and the auspicious Sivarathri Vilakku was held at midnight. Bali tharpan at the more than 200 tharas specially prepared for the rites began to be performed from the very morning on Friday.

Two priests were stationed at each balithara to help the devotees perform bali. Organisers were expecting greater number of devotees to reach Manappuram this year since the Saturday is the new moon day, a day for bali tharpan.

Thousands of devotees reached Vadakkunnathan temple in the heart of Thrissur city to worship Lord Siva on the auspicious day.

Special poojas were performed and several programmes were arranged there. The Sivarathri festival at Vadakkkunnathan temple had started a week ago.

The Siva temple at Muthuvara off Thrissur celebrated its annual festival on Friday. The Siva Temple, Karumarakkadu, Wadakanchery celebrated the Sivarathri festival with thousands reaching the temple from Wadakanchery and nearby areas to offer worships.

Celebrations at the Peruvanam temple in Cherpu, which had started with the Krishnanatttam performance held on Wednesday by the Guruvayur Devaswom, reached the zenith on Friday with thousands of devotees thronging the temple. On Thursday, at Peruvanam the traditional art form of Nangyarkoothu performed by Usha Nangiar after the Niramala ad Deeparadhana was reportedly organised.

The Siva temples of Aruvippuram and Koorkanchery, maintained by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalayana Yogam (SNDP), also witnessed large numbers of devotees who had come to worship the Lord.

Special poojas were performed and special programmes had been arranged at the Thrikkuratty Siva Temple, Mannar, Alappuzha district on the auspicious day.

The silent rural environs of the tribal hinterland of Attappadi, Palakkad district, came alive with festivities and Sivasukta chanting at the Malleeswaran Kovil, maintained by 162 families.

The other Siva temples in Palakkad district where special poojas had been arranged on the day included those of Killikkurissimangalam in Lakkidi, famous for its connection to Kunjan Nambiar, Ottappalm, Vengeri and Chuduvalathur in Shoranur. Special poojas had also been arranged at the Thali Siva Temple at Pattambi, the Thrithala temple, the siva temples of Parali, Kinavalloor and Walayar. Devotees thronged the Someswaram temple at pambadi near Thiruvilwamala in Thrissur district.