Thiruvananthapuram: Balitharpan to be hit

Thiruvananthapuram: With the water level in Periyar rising, the balitharpan for forefathers on Karkidakavu on the banks of Periyar at the popular spots of Aluva and Chelammattam near Perumbavoor is set to be hit on Saturday. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) authorities who are overseeing the conduct of the balitharpan at Aluva have come to the conclusion that it is almost impossible to conduct the ritual at the Sivarathri Manalpuram with the ground itself submerged on Thursday. They are now exploring the possibility of conducting the ritual on the road leading to manalpuram.

“Since there is no possibility of flood waters receding fast, we don’t foresee the possibility of conducting the ritual either on the banks or on the manalpuram. So if the waters do not enter the road by Saturday, we hope to conduct it on the road. Hence trading will not be allowed on the road,” said D Jayakumar administrative officer, TDB, Aluva, adding in 2013 also the ritual was conducted on the road. He, however, added that due to this, the number of devotees coming to perform the ritual will come down substantially this time. Normally nearly 1.5 lakh devotees descend at the manalpuram to offer the balitharpan. “We have sought the help of police and volunteer organizations for the smooth conduct of the event this time,” he added.

At Chelamattam Sree Krishna Temple, the rituals cannot be conducted on the banks of Periyar as the pandal erected for the same on the banks has already been almost fully submerged. Hence the temple authorities have decided to shift it to the pandal erected at the temple where flood waters are unlikely to enter. Here usually over one lakh devotees offer tharpan, but this year, this number may come down.