AMN
Thousands of devotees in Kerala thronged the banks of river Periyar in Aluva to perform balitharpan, paying obeisance to their forefathers, on Shivratri early this morning.
Special pujas were held at the Mahadeva Temple on the banks of the river. The rituals associated with balitharpan began at the temple around midnight and will continue till noon today, February 19.
Over 150 balitharas or platforms were arranged along the banks of the river to perform balitharpan. Devotees from far and wide started arriving at the temple yesterday. They remained sleepless throughout the night and performed the rituals after taking a dip in the river. Over 1000 policemen, fire service personnel, and scuba diving teams have been deployed on the river bank to ensure their safety.