Bhagavatha Sathram begins at Thiruvalla

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Bhagavatha Sathram begins at Thiruvalla CEREMONIAL START: Renowned Bhagavathom exponent and Sanskrit scholar Malliyoor Sankaran Namboodiri hoisting the ceremonial flag on the Sreevallabha Temple premises to mark the beginning of the 23rd Srimad Bhagavatha Sathram in Thiruvalla on Sunday. PATHANAMTHITTA: The 23rd Srimad Bhagavatha Sathram began at the specially erected venue at the famous Sreevallabha Temple premises in Thiruvalla on Sunday afternoon. The week-long Sathram, billed as the largest annual Hindu religious retreat in

South India, had an enthusiastic start with renowned Bhagavatham exponent and Sanskrit scholar Brahmasri Malliyoor Sankaran Namboodiri hoisting the ceremonial flag at the Sathram venue at 4.10 p.m. A ceremonial procession carrying the Sree Krishna idol brought from Guruvayur, the Sathram flag, the peepal sapling and soil brought from Naimisharanya in Uttar Padesh and the holy water from river Netravati in Karnataka was held from the Muthoor Bhagavathy Temple to the Sreevalabhapuram earlier as a prelude to the inaugural function. The sprawling temple premises turned into a sea of humanity as hundreds of devotees from different parts of the State thronged the temple town to attend the inaugural function. The entire atmosphere was charged with the devotion. Malliyoor Sankaran Namboodiri hoisted the ceremonial flag and installed the Sree Krishna idol at the Sathram venue marking the beginning of the religious and spiritual retreat. Chief priest

of the Mookambika Temple in Kollur in Karnataka, Brahmasri Govinda Adiga, inaugurated the 23rd Sathra Samarambha Sabha chaired by Tantri Akeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiripad. Thekkemadhom Mooppil Sankaranandabhothi Swamiyar lighted the ceremonial lamp on the occasion. Malliyoor Sankaran Namboodiri delivered the benedictory speech, later. In his presidential address, the Tantri expressed hope that the week-long religious and spiritual retreat could bring about a social awareness on the importance of mutual trust, love and compassion to the fellow beings which is badly needed in the modern age of chaos. Sathra Nirvahana Samithi vice-chairman C.P. Balan Pillai, general convener V. Sreekumar, Bhagavatha Sathra Samithi president M.K. Kuttappa Menon and secretary M. Ramakrishnan also spoke. The week-long meet will come to a close on January 1. -