Pathanamthitta: As the COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Kerala, devotees are upset over Travancore Devaswom Board’s decision to suspend ‘Valla Sadhya’ ritual at Aranmula Parthasarathy temple.
‘Valla Sadhya’ ritual was scheduled from August 4 to October 4. Before the nationwide lockdown over the pandemic outbreak, 125 people booked for the annual 'Valla Sadhya' offerings at the temple.
If the authority denies permission to perform the offerings, 'Valla Sadhya' will be called off for the first time in the history of the temple. Hence, the devotees are upset that years-long custom will be violated.
Even when the flood devastated Kerala, ‘Valla Sadhya’ was held till August 14 in 2018. A total of 92 offerings were performed in this period.
As the district collector restricted taking boats to the river, ‘Valla sadhya’ offerings were held after rural chiefs reached at the temple through the road instead of the river.
Half of the offerings booked after August 15, 2018, were performed last year. Some devotees postponed their offerings to this year. Hence, they are worried whether they will be able to perform the ritual this year.
