Sree Padmanabha Swami temple readies for six-yearly Murajapam-Lakshadweepam festivities| WATCH

Thiruvananthapuram: The Murajapam-Lakshadweepam festival at the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is set to begin on November 20, with the grand finale scheduled for January 14. Held once every six years, the festival is a significant religious and cultural event in Kerala.

Vedic experts from across India and abroad will chant the four Vedas continuously for 56 days, culminating in the symbolic lighting of one lakh mud lamps within the temple premises. As part of the festival, a jalajapam will also be conducted at the ceremonial temple pond for 48 days.

Prince Aditya Varma of the Travancore Devaswom Board noted that over 25,000 people attended the festival last time, but this edition will have crowd restrictions due to fire hazards and other security considerations.

Each evening, following the Murajapam, a Muraseeveli—a ceremonious parade of the Lord Anandapadmanabha, the presiding deity—will be held. The idol will be carried in specially designed vehicles.

Vedic scholars from Sringeri, Uduppi, Uthathimadam, and Kancheepuram will participate in the Murajapam, with elaborate arrangements made for their accommodation. A vedamandapam will be erected at the East Nada of the temple.

Cultural programmes by leading artists will be organised at the temple premises from November 20 to January 10, with South Indian actor Rana Daggubati inaugurating the events on November 20.

The festival was started by Anisham Thirunal Marthandavarma of the Travancore family, who decreed that it should be held once every six years. Organisers have expressed a vision of transforming the Murajapam-Lakshadweepam festival into the South’s equivalent of the Kumbh Mela.