The Navratri festival might not be as grand in Kerala as the rest of the country. However, the state's temples have their own sacred rituals, prayers and celebrations on the day, alongside special rituals, music and dance programmes. Devotees also gather to participate in special pujas and processions, creating an atmosphere of devotion and celebration. The rituals might be comparatively simple here, but they often include intricate decorations, traditional music, and special offerings that honour the gods. Here are the Navratri events and programmes planned at a few of the temples in Kerala:
Navaratri celebrations at Koodaranji Porkali Bhagavathy Temple
Koodaranji, Kozhikode
Navaratri celebrations have begun at Sri Porkali Bhagavathy Temple at Kovilakathumkadav. Navaratri will be celebrated till October 13 with special pujas, initiation of children into writing, pujas of vehicles and work implements, serving of food, niramala and chuttuvilakku, guruthi pushpanjali and samooha archana. Temple tantri Mithun Narayanan Namboothiripad and chief priest Sudheesh Shanti will lead the special pujas. Special rituals such as Saraswati Puja, Sarvaishwarya Puja, Ganapati Homam, Bhagwati Seva, Guruthi Pushpanjali and Devi Puja will be performed during the Navaratri festival. There will be niramala and chuttuvilakku every evening along with the pujas.
Manassery Kunnath Thrikovil Vishnu Temple
Mukkam
The Manassery Kunnath Thrikkovil Vishnu Temple is a famous shrine with the largest chariot in South India. The celebrations, including the chariot festival in the temple, are famous. Navaratri celebrations have started in the temple with a puja on Thursday. Navami Puja will be held in the temple on October 13. There will also be the initiation into writing and pujas of vehicles and work implements. Alphabet books, slates and pencils will be given to all those who come for initiation into writing. Devotees will also be served breakfast. Temple president P. Chandramohanan, working president M.P. Ravindranath, and secretary Raman Irattangal said that Ozhukil Thattayur Illath Manoharan Namboothiri, Madhu Namboothiri and Karanthur Ramachandran Namboothiri will officiate at the ceremonies.
Anayamkunnu Sri Krishna Parthasarathy Temple
Karassery
Navaratri celebration will be conducted on a grand scale at the Anayamkunn Sri Krishna Parthasarathy Temple in Kottayam. The celebrations began on October 3. There will be a recitation of the Lalitha Sahasra Namam every evening. The celebrations got off to a start with a puja on Thursday. There will be adachu puja too on October 12. On October 13, there will be initiation into writing, pujas of vehicles, and Nada Thurakkal. Vishnu Namboothiri Kolleta and Ilamana Krishnan Namboothiri will lead the ceremonies. Ajayachandran Indeevaram will will preside over the Vidyarambham event.
Puja performed at Manassery Mecheri Shiva Temple
Manassery
Navaratri celebrations began on October 11 with puja at the Mecheri Shiva Temple. There will be cultural events until October 13. Oru Chiri Iru Chiri fame star Ameya Thumpi will inaugurate the dance and music festival. There will also be performances by local artistes. A karaoke devotional songs event will also be performed. Vidyarambham and vehicle puja will also be performed on October 13. There will also be artistic programmes presented by Mecheri Natya College. Temple president K.V. Hari and secretary Rajan Palakunnath said Muthuvana Illath Krishnan Namboothiri will preside over the events.
Lakshmi Temple at Thamarassery Fort
The Lakshmi Narasimhamurthy-Bhagavathy Temple at Thamarasserry Fort is celebrating Navaratri on a grand scale this year. Sri Porkali Bhagavathy, the clan deity of the Kottayam dynasty, and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy are worshipped here and are of equal importance. Saraswati Puja will be performed here every day till Vijayadashami, as usual. Navaratri celebrations will also be held on the day of Vijayadashami on October 13. On Saturday, the Mahanavami day, Nadarchana will be held jointly by Thamarassery Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha and Sangeetha Gurukulam under the auspices of the Temple Protection Committee from 8 am to 4 pm. A concert led by Dilip Suresh will be staged at 4 pm, followed by Bhaktiganasudha under the leadership of Aryan Suresh. On October 13, Vijayadashami day, there will be puja eduppu. Initiation into writing will begin at 8 am. Temple chief priest Karuwata Babu Namboothiri will be the chief functionary for the initiation of writing. Vehicle puja will be performed from 6 am on the day.
