Palakkad: Bundles of paddy spikes reaped from Nenmeni paddy field in Kollangode here has been taken to the temple shrine of Sabarimala for the ‘illam nira’ and ‘niraputhari’ ceremonies to be held at the holy shrine on Monday. Choottithirakalathil Krishnakumar of Ayyappa Seva Sangham in Kollangode has grown the paddy at the field and a total of 1,154 bundles have been taken to different temples in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as offerings for the auspicious ceremony held on different days till August 10.
As many as 254 bundles have been taken to Sabarimala and 201 to Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple. “The bundles have been taken to Sabarimala for the past eight years,” Mr Krishnakumar said. “There is huge demand for the paddy bundles to be taken to temples in Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Chottanikkara. It is taken to 40 temples in Palakkad and several shrines in Pollachi and Coimbatore.” Mr Krishnakumar said he started this year’s cultivation right after Vishu festival in April. Hanging the paddy with hay in houses after special poojas held in temples is considered to bring prosperity.
