Karkidaka Vavu (the new moon in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam) bali rituals were conducted on a large scale across Kerala on July 28, with thousands thronging temples, beaches, and river banks to pay obeisance to their departed ancestors. The fervour is palpable as many had not been able to do bali tarpan for the last two years owing to the pandemic.
With hardly any COVID-19 restrictions in place, most ritual centres witnessed a huge rush as usual, and rituals too commenced early in the morning — as early as 3 a.m. in certain places.
