Today is Karkidaka Vavu Bali

Today (Wednesday) is Karkidaka Vavu Bali in Kerala. Karkidaka Vavu Bali is an annual ritual dedicated to the dead – ancestors, grandparents, parents, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers and other relatives – performed by Hindus in the state in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. Thousands of Hindus reach the nearest river or seashore to offer this annual ritual.


The ritual performed for the souls of dead is referred as ‘Bali’ in Kerala and Vavu is Amavasi or no moon day.


Offering Bali on the Karutavavu day in Karkidaka Masam is considered highly meritorious.


Sri Parasurama Temple located in Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, is well known as the venue for ancestor worship.


The Travancore Devaswom Board has arranged a one-hectare parking lot near the Thiruvallam Parasurama temple to avoid traffic congestion and parking troubles during Vavu Bali.


This is the first time that a separate parking space has been arranged for devotees coming for Balitharpanam (ritualistic offerings to ancestors) at Thiruvallam, temple administrative officer G. Santhosh said here on Monday. The parking lot will have lights and CCTV cameras, he said.


Varkala is another major venue for Balitharpanam in the district. Nearly one lakh people are expected to offer Bali at the specially prepared venue.


Shanghumughom, Aruvippuram, Aruvikkara, Thrikkannapuram, Karamana, Thrivikramangalam, Kadhinamkulam, Kelamangalam, Thirukkulangara (Vellayani), Rameswaram (Neyyattinkara), Aniyur (Chempazhanthy) and Chirakkara are the other venues for Balitharpanam in the district.