Kottayam :

Narayana Bhattathiri of Mangattu Illam  at Kumaranelloor, near here, set out on Thursday to lead the Churulan boat which would  accompany the ‘Thiruvonathoni’ laden with the provisions for the Ona Sadya of the deity of the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple.

The boat ride in the Churulan ferry which would accompany the Thiruvonathoni is his 16th in a row as part of the ritual. “This is my divine appointment,” said Bhattathiri before embarking on the three-day journey. According to the custom, the eldest male member of the Mangattu family will accompanying the boat carrying provisions for the Onam feast at Aranmula temple. Legend has it that one of the ancestors of Bhattathiri then residing at Kattoor, near Kozhenchery, was ordained by the deity to provide him with the provisions for celebrating Onam every year.

Though the family had relocated themselves to Kumaranelloor the tradition has continued uninterrupted. Bhattathiri, along with three oarsmen, has set out on the route which will take them to Kidangara on the first lap of the journey. The boat, after travelling by the Meenachil  river, entered Vembanad lake and will reach Kidangara, near Changanassery, by Friday evening.

He would move out on the second leg of the journey to reach Moovadathu Mana, near Tiruvalla, where he would stay overnight.

He would reach Kattoor on Saturday and from there, the Mangattu family member would travel on the Thiruvonathoni accompanied by representatives of 18 families of the ‘Kara’.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / Express News Service / September 05th, 2014