T’puram: Thousands gathered at major temples, riverbanks and coastal centres across the district on Wednesday for Karkidaka Vavu Bali rituals.The rituals, held on the Amavasi (new moon) day in Karkidakam, the final month of the Malayalam calendar, began in the early hours at several centres. Karkidaka Vavu Bali is traditionally performed at riversides, beaches and temple premises, with priests guiding the public through the prescribed rituals.Thiruvallom Sree Parasurama Swamy Temple remains one of the major centres in district. The temple is among the state’s prominent destinations for ancestral rites and has traditionally witnessed heavy crowds on Karkidaka Vavu. There was a huge crowd at the temple from 2am to enter the temple to ensure seats. The ritual began at 5am.Large gatherings were also reported at Varkala Papanasam, another major pilgrimage centre where people offered Bali.At Papanasam, people had a narrow escape when strong waves suddenly surged towards the ritual area. However, no untoward incidents happened as authorities had imposed restrictions on entering the sea amid rough conditions and had deployed personnel to ensure public safety.Shanghumugham Beach, Aruvikkara, Kadinamkulam, Thamalam, Rameswaram near Neyyattinkara, Kelamangalam at Keraladityapuram, Thrikulangara at Vellayani and Aruvippuram were among the other important centres where people gathered for the observance.The district administration had made elaborate arrangements involving police, fire and rescue personnel, health teams, local bodies and other departments to regulate the crowds and ensure safety. Arrangements included ambulances, drinking water, sanitation facilities, parking, and lifeguards at vulnerable locations. Around 900 police personnel had been earmarked for security and crowd management across the district.Safety restrictions were particularly important at coastal venues amid rough sea conditions. Authorities had earlier warned the public against entering the sea or rivers for rituals, urging them to follow safety instructions. Papanasam Beach had also faced temporary closure earlier in Aug because of rough seas and high tides.
