Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya, the annual ritualistic mass feast, was held with traditional fervour at Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula on Wednesday.
Thousands of people, including the crew of 51 Palliyodams (snakeboats), attended the sumptuous feast, served on the sprawling temple premises on the banks of the Pampa. K. Ananthagopan, president, Travancore Devaswom Board, inaugurated the feast at a function presided over by the Palliyoda Seva Sangham (PSS) president K.S. Rajan.
Oarsmen from 51 karas (village units) in and around Aranmula arrived on their Palliyodams to have the ceremonial feast. The Vallasadya began around 11 a.m. amid an atmosphere charged with devotion. The excitement hit a crescendo as the guests, in keeping with the tradition, began demanding the dishes in typical Vanchippattu style. As many as 40 dishes were served as part of the feast.
As a prelude to the feast, a ceremonial parade of the Palliyodams was held in the Pampa and the oarsmen were accorded a traditional reception at the temple ghats here.
The curd to be served for the feast had been brought from Chenappady village in Kottayam the other day.
