Karkidaka Vavu Bali in Kerala on August 12: KSRTC to operate 100 special buses, services from 2 am

Kerala's annual Hindu ritual of Karkidaka Vavu Bali, during which prayers are offered to honour ancestors, is to be held on August 12 this year. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate special services on the day to various balitharpanam centres of the state. The services will start from 2 am, as per a statement released by the KSRTC.

The balitharpanam centres are Thiruvallam, Varkala, Shankhumugham, Veli, Aruvikkara,  Aruvippuram, Kadhinamkulam, Chettamangalam Sreekrishnaswami Temple, Thirumullavaram (Kollam), Aluva Manappuram, Thirunavaya and Thirunelli Temple. 

Additional services as per demand
Additional services have also been arranged from various units of KSRTC as per the needs of passengers, it said. The transport corporation said that this year, 100 buses were arranged for special services, compared to 62 in 2025. Special squad officers and staff were assigned in advance at each centre to monitor the passenger rush and send special services to the required places in a timely manner.

A system was also put in place to increase the number of services or rearrange and send buses to the required places according to the passenger rush.

Online booking at temple
At the Sree Parasurama Swamy Temple in Thiruvallam, devotees who want to offer the bali can book slots in advance. Slots are available from midnight to 1 pm on the Vavu Bali day. Each slot is of 50-minute duration. They can book via the temple website. They can log in with their email ID and phone number, giving Aadhaar details and a photograph. Devotees can also buy advance tickets from other major temples in Thiruvananthapuram, Neyyattinkara and Ullur, Travandore Devaswom Board's book stalls and Puthenchantha Hindumatha Grandhasala.