THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The third Sreemad Bhagavatha Sathram will be held at Sree Mahaganapathi temple at Kottarakkara from January 22 to 30.
Temple advisory committee president Thempra Venugopal and secretary S. Sabu told a news conference here that ISRO former chairman G.Madhavan Nair will light the ceremonial lamp to mark the beginning of the sathram at 4 p m on Friday.
Devaswom Board Chief commissioner K. Jayakumar will deliver the introductory lecture.
Hindu Aikyavedi state general secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan will deliver the benedictory address.
Dr M.Sambasivan will deliver the keynote address.
Kodikunnil Suresh MP will honour chief guest G. Madhavan Nair with Ganesha Padma award. Aisha Potti MLA will dedicate the Ganesha Padma award to Bhagavathacharyan Parakkode N.V. Nambiathiri. A ratha yathra carrying the flame to be lighted at the Sathram will be taken from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the head of the Travancore royal family, will hand over the flame at 7.45 a m on Tuesday. The ratha yathra will tour major temples in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts before reaching the Mahaganapathi temple, Kottarakkara, at 4 p m on January 22.
On January 30, Thyppooya mahotsavam will be celebrated at the temple.