Thiruvananthapuram: The 56-day long Lakshadeepam festival of famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala began on November 21st 2019 early morning with ritual ‘Mura Japam’. The festival of lighting of one lakh lamps is held once in six years and hence it draws a huge congregation of devotees from various places to participate in the religious, cultural, music, dance, bhajans and various other devotional programmes during this period.
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Today, one of main events include ‘Mohiniyattam’ dance by a well-known group directed by Mr.Sooryakrishnamoorthy.
“The Lakshadeepam festival 2020 is a a much awaited festival for us. I am happy to have been born in a sacred place Thiruvananthapuram,” said a devotee Mr.M.Ramasamy. In this important festival, ‘MURAJAPAM’ and ‘PURAPPAD’ hold lot of importance inside and outside of the temple and the Royal family here will lead the temple deities in procession.
Some of the important programmes during this festival are Chadhur Veda Parayanam, Jala Japam, chanting of Veda mantras, Vishnu Sahasranamam, etc.
The festival comes to an end on 56th day with ‘Purappad’ taking place in a grand manner and it will be on ‘Makara Sankranthi Day.’ According to devotees, Mr.V.Ratheesan, IAS, has been instrumental in making elaborate arrangements along with temple staff and employees of various State government departments.
“Artistes participating in cultural programmes in this festival will not take any single rupee from the temple as remuneration. Because devotion dominates now and that is the significance of our ‘Laksha Deepam’ festival in this more than 5,000-year-old Thiruvananthapuram Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple,” devotee Mr.M.Ramasamy told ‘Lotustimes’ news website today.
