Thiruvananthapuram  :

For the first time, Onam special banana bunches will be offered to the presiding deity at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on the Uthradam day on Saturday. Following that on Thiruvonam on Sunday, Onavillu offering will be held. Additional security arrangements are in place for the Onam festivity at the temple.

“On the Uthradam day, banana bunches will be offered to the Lord by the temple staff and by the devotees. It will be followed by the customary ritual of ‘Onavillu Charthal’ held every year on the Thiruvonam day,” temple administrative committee chairperson and additional judge KP Indira said.

The banana bunch offering will be held from 8am to 11am on Saturday for which the devotees are expected to get a ticket worth Rs 20. It is left the devotees to decide on the number of bunches that they wish to offer, said temple executive officer KN Satheesh.

On Sunday, ‘Onavillu charthal’, the dedication ceremony of offering the ceremonial bows to the deity, will be held symbolising the birthday of Lord Mahavishnu. Onavillu will be brought in through the South gate of the temple. The Nambi priest will offer it to Sree Padmanabhaswamy.

“Security arrangements at the temple will be fool-proof with bollards and blockers to regulate the vehicular traffic. An additional posse of 200 security force personnel will be deployed around the temple precincts for six days till September 11,” city police commissioner H Venkatesh told TOI.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / September 06th, 2014