KOTTAYAM: Preserving long-time tradition, N K Saumyavathi Thampuratti, a member of the erstwhile Cochin Royal Family from Vayaskara Illam, was presented with the traditional Uthrada Kizhi on Saturday. The Uthrada Kizhi is a symbolic gesture of respect given to former Royal family members by the government on the occasion of Uthradam, the day before Onam.
During a modest ceremony at the Vayaskara Raj Bhavan Kovilakam, the Kizhi, containing an amount of Rs 1,001, was presented to Thampuratti, the wife of A R Raja Raja Varma of Vayaskara Illam, by Kottayam Collector John V Samuel. The event was attended by MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Kottayam tehsildar S N Anilkumar, and Kottayam village officer M Niyas.
The tradition began before Independence when the Maharaja of Kochi began gifting the women in his family with funds to purchase Onakkodi. The distribution was scheduled for Uthradam.
