Vallasadya season begins at Aranmula
The Vallasadya season has officially begun at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple, featuring traditional boat songs and ritual feasts. The event serves as a major cultural attraction leading up to the annual boat race.
Why it matters
Preservation of traditional cultural festivals is vital for regional tourism and community identity in Kerala.
The rhythmic chants of Vanchippattu (boat songs) returned to the banks of the Pampa on Sunday as the season of Vallasadya, the unique ritual feast associated with the Onam festivities at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple, got under way.
Hundreds of devotees thronged the temple precincts to witness the opening day’s rituals. Oarsmen aboard 10 palliyodams arrived at the temple ghats to a rousing welcome on the opening day. Dressed in traditional attire, they were received with betel leaves, areca nuts and tobacco before being ceremonially escorted into the temple premises. The Melukara palliyodam was the first to reach the temple ghat at 11.30 a.m.
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