Thousands perform rituals on the banks of the Periyar

Maha Sivarathri celebrations were conducted at the Aluva manalpuram in an atmosphere of religious fervour yesterday. The sandbanks of the Periyar river attached to the Mahadeva Temple wore a festive look, as thousands of people from various parts of the district and beyond converged on the manalpuram. Bali tharpan was offered at over 250 bali tharas arranged by the Travancore Devaswom Baord (TDB) for the occasion. People had reached the manalpuram by Thursday evening. The board had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the bali tharpan. Chennas Parameswaran Namboodirpad, Chennas Narayanan Namboodirpad, and Melsanthi Mullappally Subramanian Namboodiri led the rituals. The board also distributed appam, aravana, koottupayasam and vella nivedyam to the devotees.