Aranmula gears up for annual Ashtami Rohini feast on September 4
Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple hosts Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya on Sept 4, with over one lakh expected to be served.
The historic Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple in Keralam will be held on September 4, bringing together devotees and representatives of palliyodams (snakeboats) from 52 karas (villages).
The feast is scheduled to commence at noon, with Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K. Jayakumar lighting the ceremonial lamp to mark the start. Following this, representatives from all 52 karas will participate in the community meal on the temple premises.
Seating arrangements have been organised across multiple venues. The main community feast will be served at the dining hall on the southern side of the temple. Special invitees will dine at the Panchajanyam auditorium, sponsors at the Krishnaveni auditorium, and village-nominated representatives at the Vinayaka auditorium. Separate coupons have been issued for each arrangement.
Preparations are in full swing to serve the feast to more than one lakh people. The cooking fire was lit at 6.45 a.m. using the ceremonial lamp brought from the sanctum sanctorum. Over 600 people are involved in the preparation of the meal.
As per tradition, a group of devotees from Chenappady village will bring curd to the temple in a procession on Thursday. The curd will be offered at the foot of the flagstaff at 10 a.m. A special team led by Ambalappuzha Aravindakshan Nair will prepare Ambalappuzha palpayasam, which will be one of the main delicacies served.
The offering-based vallasadyas began on July 19 and will continue until September 16. Organisers said a total of 565 vallasadyas are scheduled this season, an all-time record. The season concludes on September 16.