Oushadha BikshaYatra to Reach Palakkad on Thursday

PALAKKAD:
The Oushadha BikshaYatra, an extensive campaign organised by Nelliakkattu Sreedhareeyam Oushadheswari temple of Koothattukulam to tour 114 temples across the state to collect medicines and herbs as alms, will pass through various temples of Palakkad district on Thursday.
Swami Sunildas of Muthalamada Sneham Charitable Trust will offer’ Biksha’ as the campaign reaches the ashram. Devotees can offer ‘Thriphala’ and Ghee as ‘biksha’ (alms) when the chariot, a specially designed vehicle with the idol of Goddess of wellness Oushadheswari installed in it, reaches the district.
After passing through the temples in the Thrissur district, the Yatra will visit Vadakkancherry Azhikkulangara temple, Sree Cherunetturi Bhagavathi Temple, Sri Nellikulangara Bhagavathi Temple, Nenmara, Meenkulathi Bhagavathi Amman Temple, Pallassana, Puthankavu Temple, Pallassana, Kollengode Kachamkurissi Temple, Muthalamada Snehasramam, Manappulli Bhagavathy Temple, Kalpathy Viswanathar temple and Sree Vadakkanthara Bhagavathy temple .
It has been a centuries old tradition in Kerala to take specially prepared medicines and follow a strict regimen of simple diets and oil baths in the month of Karkitakam (broadly July-August ), which will re-energise the body and mind. Medicines, herbs and other ingredients collected during the campaign from around the state would go into the making of the special ‘Karkitaka” medicine package, which will be distributed to the people.
The temple has also organised ‘Oushadha Ponkala” on August 6, a ritual seeking divine blessings for the wellness of the society as a whole. ‘Oushadha Seva’ starts once the Yatra returns to Koothatukulam Oushadheswari temple.