Amitabh Bachchan gets a big welcome on his maiden visit to Thrissur

KOCHI: Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan inaugurated ‘Vasanthothsavam’ at Sri Seetharamaswamy Temple in Punkunnam here on Tuesday. Several classical singers and dancers of national and international fame will be taking part in the nine-day art fest. A large number of Big B fans had gathered there gave him a roaring welcome as he arrived.

The head priest of the 115-year-old temple, the only one in Kerala with Lord Rama and Goddess Sita as main deities, welcomed the actor offering a ‘Poorna Kumbham’, (a noble and ceremonial way of welcoming guests). Bachchan took part in the inaugural ceremony after he accepted the invitation from business tycoon T. S. Kalyanaraman of Kalyan Jewellers, one of its patrons.

“This part of the country is called ‘God's Own Country’ not only by the beauty of the place, but it also reflects several gods which inhabit this region with whose blessings we all live and be happy with,” the actor said.

Speaking about the deep sense of faith and spirituality his father and well-know poet Harivanshrai Bachchan instilled in him, the evergreen star said: “My father had taught me a lesson that if things happen to your wish, it is good, but if they do not happen to your wish, it is even better. As I was puzzled to hear that from my father, he told me that if things do not happen according to the wish, the god will fix a suitable time for wishes to come true.”