Ceremonial flag hoisting conducted for Alpashi festival; Navaratri idols arrive in capital city

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the flag-hoisting ceremony for the Alpashi festival at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple was conducted, the idol procession for the Navaratri Puja also arrived in the capital city after a journey spanning three days and two nights.

Following the ritual consecration of the flag at 8:30 AM, the *Periyanambi* and *Panchagavyathu Nambi* handed over the flag and the hoisting rope to Thantri Tharananalloor Satheesan Namboodiri. The Thantri hoisted the flag on the golden flagstaff situated in front of the eastern *Gopuram* (tower).

Subsequently, *Thantri* Tharananalloor Pradeep Namboodiri hoisted the flag on the silver flagstaff in front of the Thiruvambadi Temple. At 8:30 PM, the Utsava Sheeveli procession was held, featuring the deity mounted on the Simhasana Vahanam (lion-shaped vehicle).

Meanwhile, the idol procession reached the banks of the Padmatheertham on Sunday, having completed a journey spanning three days and two nights.

The idol of Goddess Saraswati from the Padmanabhapuram Thevarakkettu was taken out in procession atop an elephant, while the deity of Suchindram Munnootti Nanga was carried in a palanquin. Velimala Kumaraswamy was brought in procession from the Karamana Satyavagishwari Temple on a silver horse. When the procession reached East Fort, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, the *Sthani* (ritual head) of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, ceremoniously welcomed the idols.

The ceremonial sword was brought along with the procession in a manner mirroring the King's own escort. Members of the royal family—including Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma, Avittam Thirunal Aditya Varma, Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvathi Bayi, and Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi—also paid their respects to the idols.

Following the *Arattu* ritual at the Padmatheertham pond, Goddess Saraswati was installed at the *Pakadashala* for worship. The Puja Vaippu (commencement of worship rituals) will take place at the Navaratri Mandapam this morning. The idols of Velimala Kumaraswamy and Munnootti Nanga were brought to the Aryasala Devi Temple and Chenthitta Devi Temple, respectively, for worship.

The *Puja Eduppu* (conclusion of the worship period) is scheduled for the 20th. This will be followed by Kumaraswamy’s *Pallivetta* procession to Poojappura. The *Nalliruppu* (ceremonial halt) takes place the following day. The return journey from Killipalam is on the 22nd, and the idols will reach their respective temples on the 24th.

Mayor V.V. Rajesh, Palace Trust Administrator R. Rajaraja Varma, Secretary D. Venkateswara Iyer, and Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Executive Officer Brigadier Anand Kumar, among others, participated in the reception ceremony held inside the Fort.

The 'Pallivetta' ritual of the Alpashi festival will take place in front of the Sundaravilasam Palace on the 19th, which marks Mahanavami. The 'Arattu' procession will be held at the Shangumugham beach on the evening of the 20th, the day of Vijayadashami.

The *Aarattu* procession takes place at Shangumugham, featuring the idols from the Thiruvallam Parasuramaswamy Temple, Arakkath Devi Temple, Vaduvoth Mahavishnu Temple, and Cheriya Udeshwaram Mahavishnu Temple. A pass system was introduced for devotees due to security reasons.