the goan I network
VASCO
The eight-day annual Utsavam of Lord Ayyappa at Shree Ayyappa temple at Mangor-Hill in Vasco concluded with the procession of Thalappoli also known as ‘Shobhayatra’.
The festival began on the auspicious day of ‘Makaravilakku’ and the festivities
concluded on Monday. Hundreds of people from port town flocked to Baina Beach to witness a colourful procession having active participation of young girls and ladies hailing from Kerala and residing in the port town.
The participants were dressed in traditional attire with thalam (a metal plate) in their hands filled with fresh paddy, flowers, rice, coconut and a lighted lamp, as they took part in the procession from Hanuman temple near Ravindra Bhavan, Baina.
The procession passed through Vasco city and culminated at Shree Ayyappa Temple based at Mangor-Hill, later in the evening.
Speaking on the occasion, T Ravishankar, President of Sree Ayyappa Temple, Vasco, said that it was only during Shobayatra that the idol of Shree Ayyappa was taken out of the temple premises.
“All these days, the idol of Lord Ayyappa was in the temple premises and never taken out of the temple premises. But only on this day during Shobayatra, the idol is taken to Baina Beach and after a holy dip in the sea, the idol is taken in a colourful procession across the city. Several people across various locations perform Aarti and seek blessing of Lord Ayyappa,” said Ravishankar.
