Thousands in Kerala Perform Karkidaka Vavu Bali Ritual to Honour Ancestors

Quick Summary

• Thousands of people in Kerala honored their deceased ancestors on Thursday,July 24,2025,by performing the ritual Karkidaka Vavu Bali.
• The ritual involves offerings of rice and flowers on banana leaves to propitiate the souls of the dead for their salvation and peace for the living.
• Devotees gathered at beaches, riversides, bathing ghats, and temples across Kerala under an overcast sky. Priests guided them through the ritual.
• Key locations for these rituals included Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple (Thiruvananthapuram), Varkala Papanasam Beach, Shanghumughom Beach, Thirumallavaram temple (Kollam), Aluva Siva Temple, and Payyambalam Beach (Kannur).
• Many performed rituals in their homes as well due to convenience or weather conditions.
• Authorities such as lifeguards and police ensured safety measures at busy beachfronts due to rough seas.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Karkidaka Vavu Bali reflects Kerala’s deep-rooted traditions blending spirituality with communal adherence to ancestral remembrance. This festival serves as a cultural cornerstone reinforcing unity among diverse age groups participating in shared rituals. The prominence of major temples and beaches symbolizes Kerala’s continued reverence for natural spaces intertwined with spiritual practices. Safety measures taken by authorities during inclement weather highlight proactive governance catering to religious gatherings without compromising public welfare. Viewed holistically, this annual event reiterates India’s enduring balance between modernization and preservation of heritage.

Read more: The Hindu