THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Alpasi festival at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here will begin on October 10. The tantric rituals in connection with the festival will begin with the ‘mannuneerukoral’ ritual on October 7. The rituals ‘praakarasudhi,’ ‘bimbasudhi,’ ‘homakalasam,’ ‘tatwahomam,’ ‘tatwa kalasam’ and ‘brahmakalasam’ will be held in the following days.
Sivelis
‘Siveli’, the ceremonial processions circumambulating the inner complex of the temple, will be held on certain days during the murajapam. The idol of the presiding deities will be taken on ‘vahanam’ (carrier) in gold and silver during the sheeveli days.
The sheeveli dates and corresponding vahanas are: October 13 (simhasana vahanam), October 14 (anantha vahanam), October 15 (Kamala vahanam), October 16 (pallaku vahanam), October 17 (Garuda vahanam), October 18 (Indra vahanam), October 19 (pallaku vahanam), October 20 (Garuda vahanam), October 21 (Garuda vahanam) and October 22 (Garuda vahanam).
The Travancore royal family head will accompany the siveli processions holding the royal sword.
The valiyakanikka ritual will be held on October 20 and the pallivetta on October 21. The festival will conclude with aarattu on October 22.
The temple administration committee has said that the devotees can offer utsava kalasams and utsava sreebalis as offerings. The utsava kalsams will be held from October 14 to October 21.
Music concerts will be held on all festival days at the mandapam near the Sree Padam gate and performing art forms like Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam at the Thulabhara mandapam.