ALUVA: The Aluva Manappuram is set for the Mahasivarathri celebrations, which will be held in an atmosphere of religious fervour on Monday. This is the first Sivarathri celebrations after a permanent foot overbridge bridge connecting the famed Aluva Manappuram with the Aluva Town was constructed across the Periyar river.
The banks of the Periyar river which pass through both sides of the Mahadeva temple will be dotted with as many as 258 ‘bali tharas’ for performing the Bali rituals.
This time the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is being set up the ‘bali tharas’ with a length of 4.5 metres and 2.5 metre width. The TDB has made all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.
Over 500 priests will assist the devotees in performing the customary rituals and the TDB has directed the priests to charge only `50 for assisting the devotees. The rituals will begin with the midnight Sivarathri vilakku. Tantri Chennas Parameswaran Namboothiri and chief priest Mallappilly Subramanyan Namboothiri will lead the rituals. Earlier, the temporary bridge from Kottarakkadavu to the venue had to be constructed each year for the smooth passage of devotees from the town to the Aluva Manappuram. This time as the permanent foot-over-bridge was constructed, authorities assume at least 10 lakhs devotees will throng the Manappuram for Sivarathri celebrations.
There would be special arrangements like makeshift tents for women to change dress after the customary dip in the river. The authorities have set up 5 makeshift tents, 15 permanent toilets, and 45 temporary toilets for the comfort of devotees. A three-week long trade fair and one-week long cultural programmes are also being arranged as part of the fete.
About 2,000-odd police personnel including 200 women CPOs, 164 sub inspectors, 30 circle inspectors and 10 DySPs would be deployed under the aegis of Ernakulam Rural SP G H Yathish Chandra for providing security cover to the rituals and celebrations.
Service of swimmers and experts from the police force along with support facilities such as boats and life jackets would be made available during the occasion.
The rural police also said they have installed surveillance cameras along the river bank and neighbouring places to monitor the crowd. Sale and consumption of various alcohol drinks and begging are banned in Aluva municipal area for Monday and Tuesday. The rural police have also enforced traffic regulation in the town in connection with the festival.