Aranmula Valla Sadya Festival - stock photo

ARANMULA, INDIA - 26th AUGUST - Boatmen practice for the Aranmula Vallamkali on the River Pamba and perform the daily feast and worship rituals at Aranmula Hindu temple as part of the Valla Sadya vegetarian feast festival. The rituals, which are held over a two month period, involve the crews of 52 Keralan snake boat racing teams feasting on a special vegetarian sadya which has between 50 and 64 components. They are given a special reception by devotees who have volunteered to prepare their sadya upon arrival and then circle the temple with devotees while singing Vanchippattu, ancient boatmen verses sung in the Malayalam language. These daily rituals lead up to the Aranmula Vallamkali - an annual snake boat race, which is held along the Keralan backwaters to mark the end of the Valla Sadya festival. The Aranmula Valla Sadhya is considered one of the largest ritual vegetarian feasts in India – and the world. Aranmula, Kerala, Southern India.