KOCHI: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to make Sivarathri celebrations at Aluva an environment-friendly affair by strictly enforcing a ban on plastic even for distributing water. Bottled water or soft drinks in plastic bottles will not be allowed on the Manalpuram and boiled water made with dried ginger will be supplied to devotees at five points on the sand bank. Each container will be able to carry 5000 litres of water. This and other measures were decided at a high level meeting of various department and Aluva Municipality officials convened at Aluva Palace guest house today which was presided over by TDB chairman Prayar Gopalakrishnan.
Sivarathri which falls on February 24 will be a ‘Haritha Sivarathri’. A total of 20 bio-toilets too will be set up. Priests will be allowed to use only natural plantain leaf and its plastic replica or disposable or plastic plates will be a strict no-no. The balitharpan rate will be RS 50. The Board will build the balipura for the devotees which will be auctioned off to priests for use. Plywood will be used to segregate the balipuras so that they all would all have a common character. A total of 750 devotees will be able to offer balitharpan at the three balitharas to be set up by TDB alone. The TDB will provide light refreshments to the devotees. More vazhipadu counters too will be opened. Devotees who venture into River Periyar will be secured by barricades with police personnel also keeping an eye. KSEB and KWA will offer their services.
