Navaratri idol procession to Thiruvananthapuram begins with Udavaal handover ceremony

THAKKALA: The ceremonial handover of the Udavaal (sacred sword), a key ritual associated with the Navaratri celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram, was held with religious fervour. Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan received the sword from Tamil Nadu Devaswom representatives at the Uppirikka Malika of the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Tamil Nadu at around 8 am on Friday. The ceremony marked the beginning of the famous Navaratri idol procession to the state capital. Several prominent personalities, including MLA M Vincent and Travancore Devaswom Board President K Jayakumar, were present at the function.

The Navaratri celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram will begin with the arrival of the idols of Thevarakkettu Saraswathi Devi, Velimalai Murugan Swamy and Suchindram Munnoottinanga from Padmanabhapuram, crossing the Kerala border.

Munnoottinanga, accompanying the procession, was given a devotional farewell at Sucheendram. The goddess's journey began yesterday morning after special poojas at the Sucheendram temple. The ceremonies commenced at around 9.15 am. Minister C P John, Kanyakumari MLA Dalavai Sundaram, Kanyakumari Devaswom Joint Commissioner Jhansi Rani and TVK district secretary Madhavan were among those who attended.

Outside the temple, police personnel from Kerala and Tamil Nadu accorded a guard of honour to the deity. The procession carrying Munnoottinanga proceeded to the Sucheendram Thanumalayan Temple to seek permission before continuing its journey from there. After special poojas and a reception by devotees, the goddess reached Padmanabhapuram. Police security was arranged under the leadership of district police chief Anshul Nagar.

The procession carrying the idol of Lord Murugan departed from Kumarakovil at 3 am. All three idols will receive an official reception with honours at Kaliakkavilai, on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.