Kerala - Kochi
Rush at Manappuram for Sivarathri festival
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: People in thousands thronged the Sivarathri Manappuram at Aluva on the banks of the Periyar on Sunday to take part in the Sivarathri celebrations.
A flash strike by country-boat workers plying between the main land and the Sivarathri Manappuram caused a deadlock till noon. The boat workers were demanding a hike in the fee fixed by the Aluva Municipality for transporting people. The Municipality had fixed Re.1 per person, but the boat workers demanded that it be changed to Rs.2 per person.
They pointed out that as the number of people to be carried per boat per trip was limited to about 30 to 40, the charge had to be hiked, as three to four workers manned a boat. The charge was finally increased to Rs.2 per person.
No untoward incident was reported till evening from the Manappuram. Barricades were erected at the ghats for the first time. A police force of 1,500 personnel was deployed on the Manappuram. Seven police aid posts were also set up. Twenty police bikes were patrolling the area.
An outpost of the Excise Department was also set up at the Manappuram for the first time this year. Steps were taken to curb any anti-social activity on the sand banks during the festival. People assembled on the banks of the Periyar to pay obeisance to the departed at the 'balitharas'. The Travancore Devaswam Board had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of 'balitharpanam'.
The rituals were led by Chennassu Parameswaran Namboothiripad.
The 83rd all-religion meeting at Adwaithasramam, Aluva, was inaugurated by Swaroopananda Swamikal, president, Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust in the evening.
Kerala High Court Judge Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan presided over the function. K. Yousef Umari, Dr. Jacob Prasad, K. Sugathan and Swami Thanmaya spoke on different religions.
Balitharas were arranged on the riverbank near Advaithasramam also. The rituals were led by Swami Jayananda Saraswathi.
Various organisations and institutions offered facilities for the devotees taking part in the Sivarathri celebrations. Volunteers of Sevabharathi offered drinking water to the people.
Institutions including the State Bank of Travancore distributed black coffee to the devotees. Traffic regulations were imposed in Aluva town from Sunday noon. The regulations will continue till 1 p.m. on Monday.
Special buses were plying from different parts of the district to Aluva.
(The Hindu - 27/02/06, Monday)
Rush at Manappuram for Sivarathri festival
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: People in thousands thronged the Sivarathri Manappuram at Aluva on the banks of the Periyar on Sunday to take part in the Sivarathri celebrations.
A flash strike by country-boat workers plying between the main land and the Sivarathri Manappuram caused a deadlock till noon. The boat workers were demanding a hike in the fee fixed by the Aluva Municipality for transporting people. The Municipality had fixed Re.1 per person, but the boat workers demanded that it be changed to Rs.2 per person.
They pointed out that as the number of people to be carried per boat per trip was limited to about 30 to 40, the charge had to be hiked, as three to four workers manned a boat. The charge was finally increased to Rs.2 per person.
No untoward incident was reported till evening from the Manappuram. Barricades were erected at the ghats for the first time. A police force of 1,500 personnel was deployed on the Manappuram. Seven police aid posts were also set up. Twenty police bikes were patrolling the area.
An outpost of the Excise Department was also set up at the Manappuram for the first time this year. Steps were taken to curb any anti-social activity on the sand banks during the festival. People assembled on the banks of the Periyar to pay obeisance to the departed at the 'balitharas'. The Travancore Devaswam Board had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of 'balitharpanam'.
The rituals were led by Chennassu Parameswaran Namboothiripad.
The 83rd all-religion meeting at Adwaithasramam, Aluva, was inaugurated by Swaroopananda Swamikal, president, Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust in the evening.
Kerala High Court Judge Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan presided over the function. K. Yousef Umari, Dr. Jacob Prasad, K. Sugathan and Swami Thanmaya spoke on different religions.
Balitharas were arranged on the riverbank near Advaithasramam also. The rituals were led by Swami Jayananda Saraswathi.
Various organisations and institutions offered facilities for the devotees taking part in the Sivarathri celebrations. Volunteers of Sevabharathi offered drinking water to the people.
Institutions including the State Bank of Travancore distributed black coffee to the devotees. Traffic regulations were imposed in Aluva town from Sunday noon. The regulations will continue till 1 p.m. on Monday.
Special buses were plying from different parts of the district to Aluva.
(The Hindu - 27/02/06, Monday)
posted by renuramanath at 3:25 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home