Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), an autonomic temple body constituted in Kerala, has decided to avoid the annual 'bali tharpanamm', a ritual to pay homage to ancestors, in its temples this year due to possible corona spread. In its recent high-level meeting of the Board, the apex body has decided not to allow the ritual, which used to be performed by thousands of devotees in the premises of small and big temples across the state, as per reports. The decision was taken based on the assessment that it was difficult to perform the ritual by adhering to social distancing norms and other pandemic protocols, they said.

People belonging to Hindu community usually perform the traditional ritual on the banks of rivers and seashores across the southern state on the occasion of the 'Karkkidaka Vavu', which falls on August 8 this year.

According to Hindu belief, departed souls attain ''moksha'' (liberation) if the ritual is performed on 'Karkidaka Vavu' day. Temple authorities and police used to make elaborate arrangements to enable people to offer 'Bali tharpanam' at important places such as Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple and Shangumugham Beach here, Varkala Papanasam Beach and on the banks of Periyar river in Aluva near Kochi.

CM Yogi to visit Ramlala in Ayodhya on Sunday to inspect development works

Asif Reyaz controversial remark on Kalyan Singh health update

Bangalore: 3-year-old Kid swallows Gold Ganesha idol, miraculous escape