Special rituals at Sarkara temple from Sunday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The ‘Naveekarana kalasam’ and ‘Ashtabandha kalasam’ of the Sri Sarkara Devi Temple will be held from June 26 to July 6.Naveekarana kalasam is being organised as the last phase of the ‘Deva prasna parihara kriyas’ of the temple.The 11-day rituals are being held under the leadership of Thantri Brahmasri Tharanalloor Saji Govindan Nampoothiripad.The rituals, being held in four phases, are based on the ‘Ashtamangala deva prasanam’ organised by the temple on April 22, 2009.The ‘Prathishta ashta bandham charthal’ as part of the Naveekarana kalasam will be held from 9.18 am to 11.20 am on July 21.The temple, under the Travancore Devaswom Board, is about 200 metres away from the Chirayinkeezhu railway station. One of the specialties of the temple is that it is the only Bhadra Kali temple in the State that conducts the Kaliyoottu ritual as an annual affair.The temple celebrates two major festivals a year - the ten-day ‘Meena Bharani’ festival and the nine-day Kaliyoottu festival.