Pathanamthitta, July 9, 2013: The annual offering of Vallasadya at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy temple will be held from July 30 to October 2.

According to P. Mohanachandran, publicity convener of the Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS) that organises the ritual, booking for this year’s Vallasadya had begun at the PSS office, Panchajanyam auditorium, at Aranmula ten days ago. He said 310 bookings had been made so far. The PSS had fixed the maximum number of Vallasadya to be offered on a day at 15.

Vallasadya is a sumptuous feast, with 33 to 35 side dishes, given to the snake-boat crew as an offering to the presiding deity of the temple by the devotees. The devotee who offer the Vallasadya have to invite the crew of a boat of his choice for the feast in advance.

The crew will reach the temple on their Palliyodam (snake-boat) and they will be accorded a rousing reception at the temple ghats. They will be escorted to the temple precincts with the accompaniments of Thalappoli and the traditional temple percussion.

Singing the Vanchippattu in praise of Lord Krishna, the crew will walk around the temple and offer prayers to the deity before proceeding to the Oottupura (dining hall) for the feast, immediately after the Uchchapuja.

Mr. Mohanachandran said 40 to 48 sides dishes, that included a piece of dressed sugarcane, a variety of sweet, sour and fried items, rice, etc., would be served in plantain leaves to the boat crew.

The season of Vallasadya will begin after the Uchchapuja on July 30.

Mega feast

Ashtami-Rohini Vallasadya, a mega feast to be held on the Sri Krishna Janmashtami Day, will be held at the temple on August 28.

Nearly one lakh people were expected to take part of the ritualistic mass feast this year, Mr. Mohanachandran said.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 9, 2013.