Kottayam: Hundreds of devotees gathered at the Nagampadam Mahadeva Temple in Kottayam early Wednesday to perform bali tharpanam as Kerala observed Karkidaka Vavu.

The ancestral ritual began in the early hours at temples and designated centres across the state, with devotees offering prayers to honour their departed ancestors.

Karkidaka Vavu falls on the new moon day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam and is considered an important occasion for ancestral rites. Major centres across Kerala, including temples, riverbanks and beaches, witnessed large gatherings.
Authorities made special arrangements for crowd management and safety, particularly at locations near water bodies. Fire and Rescue Services also issued safety guidelines for devotees amid the monsoon season.