On Monday, Karkidaka vavu bali, devotees from all over Kerala congregated at various temples and ghats to pay respect to their ancestors.

In an extraordinary coincidence, this year’s vavu bali day also comes on the first of Karkidakam, the Malayalam calendar’s final month.The Ramayana is typically recited during the month of Karkidakam, which finishes on August 16. Throughout the month, the Ramayana was read aloud in various temples and households.

In Karkidakam, the day after the new moon is typically set aside for bali tharpanam. Every year, worshippers travel to sacred locations to carry out the ‘bali tharpanam’ rituals, which are meant to appease the spirits of the deceased. Making an offering in their honour is required. The two ingredients that are most crucial for the offering are water and sesame. The ceremony could differ slightly depending on the locale.

The first new moon in Karkidakam is typically taken into consideration for bali tharpanam, even if new moon day returns there on August 15 and 16.

In addition to Thiruvallam in the Thiruvananthapuram district and Thirunelli in Wayanad, millions of pilgrims visit sacred sites in Kerala every year to worship to their ancestors, including Varkala, Aluva Manappuram, and Thirunavaya in Malappuram.

At 2.30 and 4 in the morning, the Thiruvallam Parasurama Swamy Temple’s ceremonial ceremonies got under way. On Sunday night, rituals were also carried out at the Varkala Papanasam beach.
Following the IMD warning of choppy seas and high tides in the area, Thiruvanthapuram district collector Germoic George has issued limitations for bali tharpanam at Shangumugham beach.

in one place near the bali tharpanam point in the auditorium next to the old palace, just 30 people will be permitted to execute the ceremony. Even though swimming at the beach is a required element of the rite, devotees will not be permitted.

Additionally, there are traffic closures from All Saints College in Veli to the airport road.
Source- Onmanorama
Link- https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/07/17/karkidaka-vavu-bali.amp.html