Forty-nine palliyodams (snake-boats) will take part in the forthcoming Aranmula Uthrittathi Water Festival in the Pampa river, marking the idol reinstallation anniversary of Aranmula Lord Parthasarathi temple, to be held on September 2.
Talking to ‘Express,’ president of the Palliyoda Seva Sangham, the apex body of the palliyodams, K V Sambadevan, said that 46 palliyodams took part in the last year’s water festival.
The three new palliyodams are Ranni-Pulloopuram, Kottathur and Idakkulam, which fall in ‘A’ category, Sambadevan said. The work on the new palliyodams was fast progressing well and the ‘neeraniyal’ ceremony would be held before the middle of August, he said.
More aid: Sambadevan said that the Palliyoda Seva Sangham would be planning to increase the annual financial assistance to Rs 1 lakh to each palliyodams during the current year as against Rs 75,000 paid last year.
Of this, Rs 65,000 was already distributed to each of the palliyodams and another Rs 10,000 would be paid before the Uthrittathi Water Festival, he said.
The palliyodams, which participate at the Vallasadya offering, would get a minimum of Rs 5,000 each and a maximum of Rs 10,000, depending on the distance of the palliyodam karas to the Aranmual temple, Sambadevan said.
Maintenance work begins: Sambadeavn said as part of the water festival, the annual maintenance works of the palliyodams were already started and would be completed within a fortnight, he said.