Heavy rush to offer �bali\'

Thiruvananthapuram: Tens of thousands of devotees offered �Vavu Bali at temples, ghats and beaches across the district on Monday morning to propitiate their ancestors.

There was a heavy rush of devotees at the Parasurama temple, Thiruvallam, the beaches at Shanghumugham, Varkala and Avaduthura, and other temples.

At Thiruvallam, the rites began at 3.30 a.m. Forty priests were deputed to the �Bali Mandapam� inside the temple, a temporary shed outside and the ghats beside the river to assist the devotees in performing the bali. The Travancore Devaswom Board had made arrangements for up to 3,000 devotees to perform �bali� at a time in the Thiruvallam temple complex. Tickets were issued in advance.

Devaswom officials were posted as special officers to supervise the arrangements in various temples. Policemen were deputed for crowd control and traffic regulation. Arrangements were made to provide emergency medical care and drinking water and ensure uninterrupted power supply. Most temples deployed casual labourers for cleaning the �mandapams� after each batch had offered �bali.� Hundreds turned up at the Shanghumughom beach to perform the rites. Arrangements were made for the devotees there. There was a heavy rush of devotees on the Papanasam beach in Varkala right from early morning. The Devaswom Board had issued licence to priests deputed to help the devotees. The Varkala municipal authorities, the police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel, Kerala Water Authority officials and members of voluntary organisations were present to help the devotees