Rahul prays at stream where Rajiv’s ashes were immersed

WAYANAD: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today offered prayers for his late father Rajiv Gandhi and other ancestors with the “bali tharpanam” ritual on the banks of Papanasini stream, where the ashes of the former PM were immersed nearly three decades ago.

In ‘Kashi of the South’: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi performs rituals at Papanasini stream in Wayanad, Kerala, on Wednesday. PTI

Wayanad, April 17

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today offered prayers for his late father Rajiv Gandhi and other ancestors with the “bali tharpanam” ritual on the banks of Papanasini stream, where the ashes of the former PM were immersed nearly three decades ago.

Gandhi, who is on a whirlwind two-day tour of Kerala as part of Lok Sabha poll campaign and is contesting from Wayanad besides his family bastion Amethi, took time off his hectic schedule to pay obeisance at the famed Thirunelli temple near the stream here.

Wearing a traditional dhoti and draping a ‘kasavu’ (silk) shawl, the 49-year-old leader prostrated before the sanctum sanctorum and offered “kanikka” in the temple “hundi”. After the rituals, he said standing beside the Papanasini, where his father’s ashes were immersed in 1991, “brought back fond memories of him and our time together”. “This beautiful temple & its surroundings are an oasis of peace & serenity,” he tweeted.

Known as the “Kashi of the South”, the Thirunelli temple, located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and thick forest, is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu.

According to Hindu belief, performing the “bali tharpanam” (paying obeisance to departed souls) ritual for ancestors in the “Papanasini”, the stream attached to the forest temple, is sacred. Gandhi arrived at the forest temple in a helicopter, accompanied by his party leaders, in the morning. After a brief conversation with the priest about the rituals and traditions of the ancient shrine, Gandhi proceeded to the sacred stream, located about 700 metres from there.

Besides the rituals for Rajiv Gandhi, rites for Indira Gandhi, former PM and Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother, were also held.

Gandhi spent around 45 minutes at the hill shrine before leaving for a party meeting at Sultan Bathery, around 45 km from Thirunelli. “Besides Rajiv and Indira, the AICC chief performed the ritual for the jawans who lost their lives in Pulwama terror strike and lakhs of party workers who have died,” Congress leader KC Venugopal, who was among those who accompanied Gandhi, later said. — PTI