Hundreds turn up to receive 'Oushadha Biksha Yatra' at Ker

Hundreds of devotees thronged the famous Aranmula Parthasarathy temple here today to receive the "Oushadha Biksha Yatra," a unique campaign to revive a centuries-old Ayruveda tradition.

The yatra marks revival of the tradition of collecting ingredients from people for making the restorative Ayurvedic preparation, traditionally consumed by Keralites during the month of Karkitakam of the Malayalam calendar.

The campaign was organised by Nelliakkattu Sreedhareeyam Oushadheswari temple of Koothattukulam in Ernakulam district.

The 'yatra' reached Parthasarathy temple on the second day of its tour of shrines across the state.

Devotees who had gathered in large numbers offered 'Thriphala' (a combination of three Ayurvedic fruits-Amalaki, Bibhitaki and Haritaki) and ghee as 'bhiksha' (alms), which will be used as ingredients tomake the medicine to be distributed to people later, a release said here.

The specially decorated vehicle fashioned as a chariot, carrying the traditional lampbeside thestatuette of GoddessOushadheswari (goddess ofwellness) will tour through 114 temples of the state as part of the yatra, it said.

It has been a centuries old tradition inKerala to have specially prepared medicines and follow a strict regimen of simple diet and oil bathin themonth of Karkitakam (broadly July-August), which will re-energise the body and mind.

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

The yatra has been planned in two stretches. The first one will tour south Kerala down to Valiyasala in Thiruvananthapuram, covering 28 temples.

The second leg will start from Thiruvananthapuram and go up to Neeleswaram in Kasargode district, touching 47 temples.

The campaign then will return to Koothattukulam, visiting 39 temples on the way.

The yatra,onits returnto the Oushadheswari temple on July 15, will be accorded a rousing reception, followed by dedication of the 14-foot high Oushadheswari sculpture by Travancore royal family member, Aswathi Tirunal Gowri Lakshmibhai, the release added.