Sivarathri festival: Thousands throng Aluva Manapuram

KOCHI: Thousands of faithful streamed in from different directions to the Aluva Manapuram on Monday to conduct rituals to propitiate forefathers on the occasion of Mahasivarathri.

Both men and women thronged the sandbank in equal measure and the opening of the new permanent foot over bridge came as a big solace for the pilgrims and also the police personnel in crowd management.

From evening 5.30 pm the 258 balitharas set up by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) became busy and the sand bank stretching north of the Manapuram temple too became a beehive of activity. Volunteers of different organisations including Seva Bharathi assisted the pilgrims.

The amusement park set up two hundred metres away from the temple at the sand bank too witnessed rush while hawkers in different parts of the manalpuram and surroundings and nearby areas made brisk business.

The TDB had erected makeshift structures for 207 balitharas to offer tharpan while it also made 45 temporary toilet and bathroom facilities apart from 10 permanent facilities. There were separate facilities for women and men. TDB also offered light refreshments for the devotees near the temple.

Aluva Municipality too made own arrangements for the pilgrims. People from other states too came in good measure to witness the festival. The balitharpan in connection with Sivarathri is set to continue till Tuesday evening .