Aluva: Devotees flocked to Aluva Manappuram as the Shiva Temple on the banks of Periyar river welcomed 'Mahasivarathri' after a two-year hiatus owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Temple authorities informed that ‘Bali’ rituals, which started on Saturday early morning, would continue until 11 am on Monday. The Devasom board has set up 116 sacrificial altars for devotees to offer 'Bali' here. All arrangements have been done for the smoot conduct of the festival.

The Aluva municipality and the district administration have made elaborate arrangements to regulate the crowd.

A large number of police personnel have been posted on duty to manage the crowd along with volunteers and fire tenders.

Several areas in the temple premises were identified and demarcated using barricades for devotees to provide 'Bali' offerings. KSRTC buses are regularly plying from various cities to Aluva for devotees to attend the event.