Kozhencherry: The Aranmula Valla Sadhya, the iconic annual ritual held at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, will commence on Sunday. The inauguration will be conducted by Minister V. N. Vasavan at 11:30 am.

The feasts, dedicated to Lord Parthasarathy, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, will be held on the temple premises and in three auditoriums outside until October 2. Each day will feature 15 Valla Sadhyas. So far, 350 Valla Sadhyas have been booked and officials are optimistic about reaching a total of 500 feasts.

Aranmula Valla Sadhya

Celebrated on Ashtami Rohini, which is associated with Lord Krishna's star sign, the Sadhya features over 70 dishes, making it one of the most extensive vegetarian feasts in the country. This grand event is not only a culinary delight but also a spiritual offering. The ritual includes a unique tradition where every dish requested by the deity is prepared and served to devotees partaking in the feast. The occasion begins after the ucha pooja, or afternoon worship, with a group of oarsmen arriving in boats to circumambulate the temple while singing vanchippattu, hymns in praise of Lord Krishna.

The Sadhya holds a significant place among global food festivals due to its scale and the sheer number of participants. It attracts nearly 200,000 visitors annually to the temple. The feast is intertwined with ancient rituals and legends and primarily serves as an offering to the rowers of palliyodams ( large snake boats )  accompanying the Thiruvonathoni (boat with the Onam feast delicacies from Kattoor Mangadu Illam).

Preparation for the feast begins early on the day of the event. Devotees arrive at the temple with two ‘paras’—one for the deity and one for the palliyodams. The rowers are ceremoniously welcomed as they reach the temple banks, carrying decorated umbrellas and oars. They are then seated in a designated dining area where they are served the feast.

During the feast, rowers sing vanchippattu, requesting each dish, which is served without refusal. The Valla Sadhya includes a variety of 63 dishes, categorized into three main types and served in a traditional manner. The menu features an array of dishes such as parippu, pulissery, kaalan, avial, thoran, erissery, koottukari, pachadi, kichadi, and various mezhukku purattees, along with pickles, representing the distinct flavours of the Central Travancore region.