KOCHI: Arrangements are complete for ‘Karkidaka Vavu Bali’ at the Aluva Manappuram where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to arrive from the early hours of Sunday.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) estimates that around two lakh pilgrims will take the holy dip and offer prayers at the Manappuram between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Meanwhile, a few pilgrims arrived at the sandy shores of the Periyar late on Saturday afternoon.
Temporary barricades have been erected over a length of 190 metres along the Periyar, and thousands will be able to offer prayers at a time. Spaces to offer ‘bali’ have also been arranged.
The ghats along the Periyar were cleaned up ahead of Vavu Bali through a special drive in which the police took the lead.
Facilities
People arriving to offer prayers and perform the bali can use the concrete bridge linking the palace ghat to the Manappuram or can take the Manappuram Road from the national highway.
Special counters have been opened for supplying prasadam and pooja articles taking the expected rush into consideration.
Plastic bags and bottles have been banned as this year’s rituals at the Manappuram will follow the green protocol.
Special teams of police have been deployed at the Aluva railway station for crowd control. Street vendors have been banned in the vicinity of the Manappuram.