THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thousands of people offered Karkidaka Vavu Bali on Saturday at various bathing ghats in the capital district for propitiating their ancestors. The Vavu Bali, performed on the Amavasi (new moon) day that falls in the last month of the Malayalam calendar, is believed to provide salvation to the departed souls.Large number of people gathered at Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama temple, Aruvikkara dam site, Shangumugham beach, Kadinamkulam, Thamalam, Rameswaram (near Neyyattinkara), Kelamangalam at Keraladityapuram, Thrikulangara at Vellayani and Varkala Papanasam beach to perform the ritual. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operated special schedules from all the 15 depots in the district to the mjor venues. According to KSRTC officials, 160 additional schedules were operated from the city depot alone.In the major venues of Papanasam, Shangumugham and Thiruvallam, thousands performed the rites. Long queues were seen at all the venues from early morning. The offerings began at 4 a.m. and lasted till noon. At Papanasam, vehicles were seen parked on both sides of the road for over a few kilometres. Security arrangements were made at all the venues. Fire and Rescue Services officials and medical teams engaged by the Health Department maintained vigil at the major venues. District Collector P M Francis told ‘Express’ that the support of the officials was crucial in the effective coordination of the event. Speaker G Karthikeyan performed ‘bali’ at Aruvikkara. Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, who performed bali on the Shangumugham beach, later visited the Thiruvallom temple and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements there.
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