ARATTU AT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Arattu festival is the closing ceremony of the ten day festival in the Lord Padmanabha temple at Thiruvananthapuram. There are two such festivals every year. One takes place in the Malayalam month of Thulam (October-November) and the other in Meenam (March-April). The Arattu is a ceremonial procession of the Lord at the close of the ten-day festival. The previous night, there is a procession called Pallivetta inside the fort encircling the temple.

For the ten days of the Utsavam there will be processions in the temple twice a day, one in the afternoon and another at night (except on the first day). His Highness the former Maharaja of Travancore, the male members of the royal family, palace officers and Hindu officers of the Government desiring to do so, escort Sree Padmanabhaswamy during the procession.

On the day of the Arattu, His Highness the Ex Maharaja enters the corridor of the temple, and after some rituals, the procession takes out through the eastern gate with the accompaniment of nagaswaram, drum etc. His Highness with sword in hand and escorted by armed guards, infantry, mounted police, officers etc. leads the procession to the Sanghumugham beach. A caparisoned elephant goes in front with drum on its back, that is beaten to indicate that the God is coming in procession. Six more caparisoned elephants follow.

The procession leaves the temple gate at about 5 PM and takes about an hour to reach the sea shore. As the procession leaves the ramparts of the fort, a salute of 21 guns is made. On reaching the beach the ceremonial bath is taken in the sea.

The return procession with all the paraphernalia starts from the beach at about 8 PM and reaches the temple by about 9 AM. As the procession enters the fort area, another salute of 21 guns is made. His Highness leads the procession into the temple. After a Deepardhana (offering prayers with lit lamp) near the flag-staff, His Highness leads the procession into the temple and after a round inside, His Highness offers his prayers at the three shrines and returns to the place. There marks the end of the Utsavam. It is worthy of mention that the entire route from the temple to witness the colourful procession. The Arattu procession has always been considered a national festival in the State.

Murajapam is another religious ceremony held in the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple once in six years. Vedic recitals by Namboodiris for eight consecutive weeks is the important item of the ceremony. On the concluding day is celebrated the Laksha Deepa mahotsava (a festival of one lakh lights) and the Avabhruta Snana (concluding bath).

AMBALAPUZHA ARATTU

The Sree Krishnaswamy temple at Ambalapuzha dedicated to Parthasarathy was established by the Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran in the year 790 M.E. He offered his state to Sree Krishna and ruled the country as his regent after assuming the name of Deva Narayana.

The Arattu festival of the temple commences with the flag hoisting ceremony on the Atham day in Meenam (March-April). The important Arattu Utsavam, however, takes place on the Thiruvonam day in Meenam. 'Velakali' is an important feature of this festival. The famous Ambalapuzha Palpayasam (a milk of pudding of exceptional sweetness) is the important offering of this temple.