Non-Hindu pays visit to Padmanabhaswamy Temple, rituals ahead of Alpashi fest to be held again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is reported that a non-Hindu woman visited the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple with only a few hours left for the Alpashi festival. Following this, the temple tantri directed to re-perform the functions including the mannuneerukoral conducted ahead the flag-off of the Alpashi festival.

A Muslim woman from Manacaud in Thiruvananthapuram reached the temple last evening. A person in the temple who knows her soon identified her. He immediately informed the temple authorities and when questioned she agreed that she was a non-Hindu. She was soon asked to go out of the temple. Following this, the temple tantri directed to re-perform the temple rituals including dravyakalasham, mannuneerukoral which are done before the flag hoisting. Rituals including the propitiatory rituals have started in the temple as part of it. There may be some changes in the darshan timings of the temple as the rituals are going on.

As per the custom of the Padmanabhaswamy temple, only Hindu devotees are allowed to enter the temple. If a non-Hindu wants to enter the temple and offer prayers, he or she will have to give an affidavit that they believe in Hinduism.

Meantime, the navaratri festival held in the months of Kanni and Thulam and the Alpashi fest of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple come together this time. The navratri festival starts on October 15 (Kanni 28). The Alpashi fest of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be flagged off on the previous day (October 14). That evening, Saraswati Devi’s Navaratri procession form Padmanabhapuram will reach the east nada of Sree Padmanabha.

The pallivetta as part of the Alpashi fest is on the Durgashtami day, that is on October 22. The arattu of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is on October 23, Mahanavami day. More devotees are expected for a darshan at Navratri Mandapam, Aryasala Temple worshipping Velimala Kumaraswamy and Chenthitta Temple worshipping Suchindram Munnuttinanga. Arattu Kalasham will be held in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple on the next day of the arattu. Ezhunallappu of taking the pooja will be held in the evening.