Sullia: India is diverse nation which has diverse cultural practices. Here in a small hamlet in Sullia, on Monday started one such rituals that leaves onlookers surprised.
The ritual of feeding rice porridge to to the river fish is held every year at the Chennakeshava Temple of Sullia without fail.
The rice is fed to the fish in River Payaswini starting on the full moon day of the auspicious month of Shravana and with this the ritual began on Monday at the temple and it will be practiced without fail for a span of four months, ie till the annual fair of the temple in January.
The ones connected to the temple like the hereditary trustees, the priest class and others first congregate to the ‘Boodu Chavadi’ and offer prayers after lighting a lamp. Then a rice porridge called ‘Naivedya’ is prepared and after several other rituals, the same rice porridge is served to the fish that line up to the spot where it is served.
The belief is that the fish from Thodikana Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, considered as ‘Devara Meenu’ or divine fish come here for the next four months without fail.
The faithful believe that the Ballala chieftains who ruled the Tulunadu started this ritual and it has been preserved down generations with a stern belief that the rituals help in keeping the region fertile and wealthy.
Temple Trustee Dr Haraprasad Thudiyadka, Boodu Radhakrishna Rai among others were present.