Cultural homecoming in Thiruvananthapuram; Navaratri celebrations begin with festive fervour

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Venerated Navratri idols arrived in Thiruvananthapuram after a three-day procession that heightened devotional vigour. The Navaratri music festival also commenced on Monday after the traditional rituals of the idols at the temple.

Devotees waited from Karamana yesterday evening to join the Navaratri procession and see the Saraswati Devi idol arrive in front of Sree Padmanabhana temple after 8 pm. The idol procession, which arrived accompanied by musical instruments, was received by locals with a shower of floral petals.

The Thevarakettu Saraswati Devi idol from the Padmanabhapuram Palace, the Suchindram Devi (Munnottimanka) idol from Suchindram, and the Kumaraswamy idol and silver horse from Kumarakovil were part of the procession.

The Kumaraswamy idol was placed on a silver horse when the procession reached the Sathyavageeswara temple in Karamana. When the procession reached the East Fort, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple's Sthani Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma bowed down to the idols and ceremonially welcomed them. He received the sword that was brought with the procession. Members of the royal family, including Aswathi Thirunal Ramavarma, Avitam Thirunal Aditya Varma, Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi, Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, and others, bowed down to the Aksharadevata, Kumaraswamy, and Munnottimanka from in front of the Karuvelappura Malika.

The reception ceremony inside the fort was attended by Palace Trust Administrator R. Rajarajavarma, Secretary D. Venkiteshwara Iyer, Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple Administrative Committee members A. Velappan Nair, Karamana Jayan, Executive Officer B. Mahesh and others.

After the Aarattu at Padmatheerthakulam, Goddess Saraswati was placed for worship in the Pakadashala. This morning, the puja will be performed in the Navratri Mandapam. Vellimalai Kumaraswamy was taken to the Valiyasala Devi Temple and Suchindram Munnottimanka to the Chenthitta Devi Temple for worship. The idols will be in the capital for 10 days. The puja will be performed on October 2. Then, Kumaraswamy will go on a pilgrimage to the temple of Poojappura. The next day, Nalliruppu. Return trip on the 4th. The idols will return to their respective mother temples on the 6th.