With just days left for the Onam festivities at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy temple to begin, the delay in clearing the mud banks formed along the 1.5-km-long stretch of the Pampa in Aranmula has cast a shadow over the annual water regatta this year.
The annual water carnival, which marks the anniversary of the idol installation at the centuries old temple here, is regarded as the oldest event of its kind in the State.
In a meeting held the other day, the Palliyoada Seva Sanghom (PSS)—an apex body of 52 palliyodams (snakeboats) participating in the event—pointed out that the delay in removing the mud banks posed a serious threat to the free movement of palliyodams. With no action forthcoming, the organisation will be pressing the case during a meeting convened by the Aramula legislator and Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday.
