Oushadha Biksha Yatra to be in Ernakulam on Saturday

KOCHI:
The Oushadha Biksha Yatra, launched by Sreedhareeyam Oushadhewswari temple of Koothattukullam, will pass through various temples of Ernakulam on Saturday while on its home-bound journey to Koothattukulam.
Devotees can offer ‘Biksha’ (alms) when the chariot, a specially designed vehicle with the idol of Oushadheswari (Goddess of Wellness) installed in it, reaches the district. It will visit Eloor Naranam Sree Krishna Swami temple, Pattupuraikkal Bhagvathi temple, Kalamassery Ganapathi temple, Thripunithura Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Chottanikkara Bhagavathi temple and Muvattupuzha Anicadu Thiruvumplavil Mahadeva temple after visiting Sree Mookambika temple, North Paravur on Friday.
The extensive campaign had covered 28 temples down to Thiruvananthapuram in its initial leg, followed by another 47 temples in its north-bound journey. Its return journey includes 39 more temples, taking the total number of shrines to be toured to 114.
Oushadha Biksha Yatra, the massive road show ever undertaken, was flagged off on June 27 from Sreedhareeyam Oushadeswari temple at Koothattukulam to tour 114 temples in the state to collect medicines, herbs and other ingredients that will be used for preparing a special ‘Karkitaka” medicine package, which will be distributed to the people.
It’s been an age old tradition in Kerala to take specially prepared medicines and follow a strict regimen of simple diet and oil bath in the month of Karkitakam (broadly July-August ), to re-energise body and the 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 among the people.
Oushadha Seva starts once the Yatra reaches Koothattukulam from where the campaign commenced on June 27.