NAGARKOVIL: The procession carrying the idol of Goddess Munnootti Nanga left the Suchindram temple for the Navratri puja of Anantapuri. Munnootti Nanga Devi, who reached Thelakkulam Neelakantaswamy Temple yesterday evening, will reach the Thevarakettu temple this morning. Velimalai Kumaraswamy will start from Kumarakovil for Padmanabhapuram at 4 am. After receiving the reception at the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Munnootti Nanga Devi, Velimalai Kumaraswamy and Thevarakettu Saraswathi Devi of Padmanabhapuram will leave for Ananthapuri in a procession.
The procession started at 7 am yesterday after special pujas at Suchindram temple. The Kerala and Tamil Nadu police issued a guard of honour outside the temple. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, MLAs M R Gandhi and Dalavai Sundaram, Kanyakumari district police chief Sundaravadhanam and Nagercoil ASP Lalit Kumar were present on the occasion.
The Navarathri idol procession begins after the handing over of the royal sword (Udaval)at the Uppirikka Malika of Padmanabhapuram Palace between 7.30 am and 8 am today. Ministers VN Vasavan and Ramachandran Kadannappally will participate.
The procession will reach East Fort on the evening of October 3. Members of the Travancore royal family will give a ceremonial welcome in front of the Karuvelapura Malika on the east side of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Velimala Kumaraswamy will be worshipped at Aryasala temple, Suchindram Munnootti Nanga at Chenthitta temple and Thevarakettu Saraswathi Devi at Navratri Mandapam.
Navratri celebrations will conclude on October 13, the day of Vijayadashami.