The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Painkuni festival ends with `arat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 13, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Painkuni festival ends with `arat'

Staff Reporter

Uthradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma could not escort the deities owing to ill health

FOLLOWING TRADITION: A view of the `arat' procession in the city on Wednesday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: The annual 10-day Painkuni festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple concluded with the traditional `arat' procession on Wednesday.

The head of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore Uthradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma could not escort the deities owing to ill health. As per tradition, he came from the western gate of the temple with the traditional `udavaal,' paid respects to the deities and went back.

The deities were accompanied by the other members of the royal family, mounted police, officials of the temple, caparisoned elephants and police officials. A traditional 21-gun salute was given as the procession crossed the ramparts of the West Fort.

A large number of people witnessed the arat procession along the way from the temple to Shanghumughom beach. The traditional `pujas' were performed at Shanghumughom. The deities were later taken to the temple at night. After the `deeparadhana,' the deities were taken back to the respective sanctums inside the temple.

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