Devotees Pour in as Oushadha Biksha Yatra Visits Kozhikode Temples

KOZHIKODE:
Hundreds of devotees poured in from far and wide to make symbolic offering of medicinal ingredients as the Oushadha Biksha Yatra reached the famed Pisharikavu temple in Kozhikode district today.
The devotees offered ‘thriphala’ and ghee as alms (biksha) , which will go into the making of special Ayurvedic formulation. The unique road show, launched by Sreedhareeyam Oushadheswari temple at Koothattukulam, also touched Thali Mahashiva temple, Sreekanteswara temple and Sree Lokanarkavu temple.
The campaign, set out in a specially designed vehicle carrying the idol of Oushadeshwari (Goddess of Wellness) on June 27, has so far touched various temples across the state, drawing big crowds. The Yatra is a first of its kind extensive road show flagged off to tour 114 temples in the state and collect from them basic medicinal ingredients for preparing the special monsoon season Ayurvedic formulations.
The medicine will be then served to the people during the month of Karkitakam of Malayalam calendar, when people seek their mental and physical rejuvenation through traditional Ayurvedic methods. The yatra, which will enter the northernmost Kasaragod by Monday evening, has already covered almost the entire stretch of Kerala. The campaign will touch several more temples on its return journey from Kasaragod before being flagged in at its starting point next week.
‘Oushadha Seva’ starts once the Yatra returns to Koothatukulam Oushadheswari Temple.