Thiruvananthapuram: From June 11, there will be a slight, but crucial, change in the nomenclature of Mithranandapuram Pond, where the priests of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple clean themselves before entering the temple before sunrise. The pond, like the Padmatheerthakkulam in front of the East entrance, will be called Mithranandapuram Theerthakulam. The pond, after a ritual to be held on June 10, will be declared sacred. The restoration, carried out following the Supreme Court diktat, was done in a record time of 51 days. When the SC asked the executive officer the time required to complete the work, he sought two months.
“On June 11, it will be 51 days, way ahead of schedule,” executive officer K N Satheesh said. Just a few months ago, the pond was the most forgotten spot in the heart of the capital. The sides were overgrown with weeds, and the pond functioned as a sort of waste dump. (A good part of the restoration involved removing liquor bottles, plastic waste and all manner of other garbage accumulated at the bottom of the pond.) The presence of certain fishes had also confirmed high concentration of fecal matter in the water.
The priests, who wake up before sunrise and hurry along the stone-paved path to the pond in shivering cold, had suffered the daily humiliation of dipping themselves in stinking faeces-infested water. Many of the priests had complained of skin diseases. As part of restoration, two special enclosures have been constructed for the priests to take their early morning ritual bath, one along the western corner, for the cheriya and periyar nambis, and another along the northern corner for the Swamiyar. The stagnant water was pumped out using four motors. “Being a natural spring, the pond filled back in two days,” Mr, Satheesh said. The sides, just months ago run down by wild growth, have been cleared. Work on installing the grills for the perimeter railing, from where the public can have a view, was nearing completion.
