Campaign to collect medicines,herbs from temples kickstarted

A campaign to collect medicines and herbs from 114 temples in Kerala for a special monsoon season Ayurvedic preparation to be served to people was kickstarted today by authorities of a shrine in the district.

As part of the 'Oushadha Biksha Yatra' campaign,organised by the Nelliakkattu Sreedhareeyam Oushadheswari temple of Koothattukulam, its authorities will tour these temples, seeking divine blessingsfor the wellness of society,the temple trust said in a release here.

This is the first time the Yatra is being undertaken on such a huge scale to collect medicines and herbs from the temples for the preparation,to be served to people for their mental and physical health in the Malayalam month of Karkitakkam.

The yatra setoff in a specially decorated vehicle fashioned as a chariot, fromthe premises of Oushadheswari temple, in the presence of a large number of devotees.

It carried a lighted lamp along with a statuette of Goddess Oushadheswari,which will visit the 114 temples.

Arrangements have been made at every halt en routefor devotees to make their offerings in the form of medicines and herbs, the release said.

After the state-wide tour, the Yatra will be flagged in on July 15.

It has been a centuries old tradition inKerala to have specially prepared medicines and follow a strict regimen of simple diet and oil bath during Karkitakam (July-August), which reportedly re-energises the body and mind.

Devotees will be served the medicine after poojas and rituals at the Oushadheswari templefrom the first day of the Karkitakam.