Devotees across Kerala gathered at different temples, beaches, and river banks to pay obeisance to their departed ancestors on the occasion of ‘Karkidaka vavu’ on Thursday.
Karkidaka Vavu bali rituals were performed at Thiruvallam in Thiruvananthapuram district, Thirunelli in Wayanad, Varakkal beach in Kozhikode, Aluva Manappuram in Ernakulam district, Thirunavaya in Malappuram, Papanasam beach at Varkala, and other holy places. Thousands of devotees were seen at Aluva Manappuram in Ernakulam district to offer ‘bali tharpanam’ (paying homage to their ancestors).
The devotees from across the state and beyond reached the temples, beaches and river banks in the state, including Periyar, Bharathapuzha, and Kalpathipuzha, by midnight on Wednesday for performing the rituals that began around 4 am on Thursday.
The legendary Periyar river was dotted with banana leaves, rings made of ‘darbha’ grass, sesame, cooked rice etc. as thousands of devotees performed ‘bali tharpanam’ at Aluva Sivarathri Manapuram. Bali for ancestors started in Aluva Manappuram at 4 am on Thursday.
Hundreds of devotees paid obeisance to their ancestors by performing the ‘balitharpanam’ ritual on the banks of the Papanashini creek on the premises of the Mahavishnu temple at Thirunelly in Wayanad.
Despite rainfall in certain regions, the devotees turned up in large numbers, offering solemn prayers for ancestral peace and the well-being of generations ahead. Anticipating heavy rains, authorities have implemented stringent safety measures in all major centres.
Considering the rush of devotees, KSRTC arranged additional services at many places.
According to Hindu belief, the souls of people’s ancestors attain ‘moksha’ (liberation) if the ritual is performed on ‘Karkidaka Vavu’ day, in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.
The rituals are performed under open skies, against a rain-soaked monsoon backdrop. This communion with nature reinforces a key spiritual message: life and death are part of a larger cosmic rhythm, and humans are only passing through.