Thiruvananthapuram | Thousands of people of varying ages and genders, from the Hindu community, turned up at various temples and 'snan ghats' across Kerala since the small hours of Wednesday to perform 'bali tharpanam' ritual on the auspicious occasion of 'Karkidaka Vavu' to pay homage to their ancestors.

The rituals were performed at Thiruvallam Parashuramam temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Thirumullavaram beach in Kollam, and other 'tharpanam' centres at Varkala, Shankhumugham, Veli, Aruvikkara, Aruvippuram, Kadinamkulam, Aluva, Thirunavaya, across the state.

Visuals showed that thousands of devotees performing the rituals at the centres under cloudy conditions, walking to a nearby waterbody, turning their back to it and dropping the ritual offerings wrapped in plantain leaves into it.

Where the rituals were performed on beaches, like at Varkala, devotees were not allowed to walk into the sea to drop the offerings or take a dip in it in view of the strong waves.

Arrangements, including setting up sheds, platforms and parking facilities, were made by the various Devaswom Boards to ensure the devotees could perform the ritual without any hindrance, officials told media.

Kerala Devaswoms Minister K Muraleedharan had on Tuesday said that preparations were complete at the 'tharpanam' centres under the various Devaswom Boards.