Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Lakshadeepam today

– Photo: S. Mahinsha

Play of lights: The illuminated eastern ‘gopuram’ of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple on the eve of the Lakshadeepam. The lights were switched on Sunday night as a trial run.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stage is set for the Lakshadeepam, the grand spectacle of lights marking the culmination of the 56-day Murajapam ceremony, at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple here on Monday evening.

Citizens turned up in large numbers to view the trial illumination of the eastern ‘gopuram’ of the temple on Sunday.

The temple authorities have made arrangements for the Lakshadeepam. Entry to the temple will be restricted to devotees who have received free passes.

More than 300 policemen will be deployed in and around Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.

City Police Commissioner Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar said about 200 policemen, including 50 women police constables, would be deployed inside the temple in plainclothes.

The police have installed metal detectors at the four entrances to the temple. It carried out anti-sabotage checks in and around the temple premises. The Commissioner said special areas had been earmarked for parking of vehicles. Traffic police constables will advise devotees where to park vehicles.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) Somanatha Pillai will oversee security arrangements inside the temple. Deputy Commissioner (Law and Order) will be in charge of security and traffic arrangements outside the temple.

The temple management has directed devotees to enter the temple premises through the designated entrance before the time specified in the entry pass.

Bags, water bottles, mobile phones, camera and electronic items will not be permitted inside the temple complex. Arrangements have been to provide drinking water inside the premises. Devotees have been directed to cooperate with security personnel and policemen on duty.

Free medical facilities will be available at the Garuda Kala Samskarika Kendram near the northern entrance to the temple.

The Murajapam ritual, which began on November 20, is a hoary tradition which involves chanting of the Vedas for 56 days. It is held every six years for the welfare of the country. According to tradition, the Vedic recitation is done in turn by priests from various parts of North Kerala.

The 56-day ritual comprises the cyclic recital of the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda in the Alankara Mandapam of the temple and the recitation of the Sahasranamam inside the Kulasekhara Mandapam.

Special poojas are held in the temple during the Murajapam and the idols of Sree Padmanabha, Narasimha and Sree Krishna are decorated. Members of the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore participated in the ceremonies.

The Murajapam has been held in the temple without interruption since 1744 when the `Bhadradeepam’ ceremony was first started. The Lakshadeepam is the highlight of the Murajapam. electric lights have replaced oil lamps in most parts of the temple since 1972. The first `Lakshadeepam’ was performed in 1750 during the reign of Marthanda Varma.

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