Interlocks and seats; Abbas and Hamsakutty renovate temple courtyard

MALAPPURAM: Those who come to perform Bali Tharpanam at Thirunavaya Sree Nava Mukunda Temple no longer have to worry about stepping in mud. Abbas Puthupparambil and Hamsakutty Cherupparambil installed interlocks and five seats and beautified the whole place. It was prepared in 20 days after spending four lakh rupees.

This is the land the two expatriates, who are spreading the message of religious unity, played in during their childhood. Abbas and Hamsakutty were disturbed by the sight of those coming to Balitarpanam at Thirunavaya Sree Nava Mukunda Temple stepping in the mud. There were many people standing on the bank holding the clothes of those entering the river as there is not enough space to sit. The two expatriates shared their desire to install Inteloc and build five seats in the 1,500 square feet of the temple courtyard in order to solve the problem with the temple committee when they were in Dubai. This was after taking advice from the friends from back home. The construction work was completed before the last Karkidaka Vavu. Both of them are businessmen and have been living in Dubai with their families for 20 years.

Interlocks were installed on the southeast side of the temple from the sacred fig to the riverbed. The temple yard is a total of 5,000 square feet. Interlock was earlier installed everywhere else. However, when it rained, water used to accumulate in the temple courtyard where interlocking was not done and used to fill with mud. The two in Dubai entrusted their friend Munir Nellithoduvil to supervise the construction so that the work could be completed quickly without waiting for them to reach home.

In this day and age of religious issues, the work done by Abbas and Hamsakoya cannot be appreciated enough.

-K Parameswaran, Temple Executive Officer

I went straight to the temple courtyard when I came home. It is an indescribable joy to know that I could bring some kind of development here.

-Abbas Puthupparambil

When I returned home, all I had in my mind was the new look of the temple courtyard. It has been beautifully built just as I imagined in my mind.

-Hamsakutty Cherupparambil