KALIYAKKAVILAI: Today, the city of Thiruvananthapuram will welcome the idols who come in a procession to shower blessings on Ananthapuri during the Navratri days. When the procession reaches in front of Karamana Avadi Amman Kovil, Kumaraswamy will be raised on a decorated silver horse. Until then, Kumaraswamy's idol will be brought in a palanquin.

The procession was taken to Kerala yesterday after a joint team of the Kerala and Tamil Nadu armed forces gave a guard of honour. A grand reception was given at Kaliakkavilai, the state border.

The idol procession was welcomed under the leadership of the state government, Travancore Devaswom Board and various Hindu organisations. Though it was raining since morning, hundreds of people turned up to witness the reception.

Nagaland Governor La Ganesan inaugurated the ceremony by lighting a lamp at the reception venue on the national highway. CK Hareendran MLA, Travancore Devaswom Board president PS Prashanth and opposition leader VD Satheesan received the idol procession by offering special puja offerings. Reception ceremonies were also held under the leadership of various organizations. Former Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, former ministers Pandalam Sudhakaran and VS Sivakumar, Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari Devaswom Board chairman Prabha Ramakrishnan, Kanyakumari district devaswom commissioner Palanikumar and others were present.

After taking rest at Parassala Mahadeva Temple at 2 pm, the idols reached Neyyattinkara Sreekrishna Swami Temple at night and puja was performed. A ceremonial welcome was accorded at the Sreekrishna Swami Temple under the leadership of the temple advisory committee.

The procession, which will start from Neyyattinkara this morning, will be given a reception at Nemom, the outskirts of the city.