Annual ‘Pancha Divya Darshan Yatra’ flagged off by Travancore Devasom Board
Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar inaugurated the Pancha Divyadesa Darshan yatra of the TDB at a ceremonial function held at Maha Vishnu temple at Thrikkodithanam on the first day of the Vaishakha month on Sunday. Mr. Padmakumar flagged off the ‘rath’ carrying the scared sacred flame transferred from the sanctum sanctorum of the Vishnu Temple in the morning.
Mr. Padmakumar said the TDB programme was aimed at providing every possible facility to the devotees to worship the deities at the five ancient Vishnu temples at Aranmula, Thrichittattu, Thrippuliyur, Tiruvanvandoor, and Thrikkodithanam, on a single day in the month of Vaishkha. Vaishnavites consider these five temples as five Vaishnava Tirupatis in Kerala. These five temples were believed to have been consecrated by the five Pandava brothers (Pancha-Pandava) of the Mahabharat. as five Vaishnava Tirupatis in Kerala.
Mr .Padmakumar said the TDB, in association with the respective temple advisory committees, has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the month-long programme.
The Pancha Divyadesa Darshan would be held on a daily basis till the end of the month of Vaishakha on June 3, he said. Mr. Padmakumar said the TDB has sanctioned a grant worth ₹25,000 for making necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the programme.
The board would also assist the TACs for conducting Annadanam at all the five temples from May 5 to June 3. The Pancha Divyadesa Darshan programme culminated at the Thrichittattu Temple near Chengannur on Sunday forenoon. TAC president Radhakrishnan Menon presided over the launching ceremony held at the Thrikkodithanam temple.
