Aarattu Festival

Aarattu Festival is celebrated in Trivandrum in the famous Padmanabha Temple. In Kerala, it is celebrated as a closing ceremony of a 10-day festival in Kerala.

The Arattu festival in Kerala is celebrated twice a year, once in the months of October-November and one more time in the months of March-April.

On this occasion, the ex-Maharaja visits the temple at Trivandrum and performs certain rituals. After the rituals, a grand procession is taken out of the temple. The procession comprises of beautifully ornamented elephants with the idol of Lord carried by the front elephant. These elephants are accompanied by the drummers and musicians playing musical instruments.

While the procession leaves the border of the temple, a salute of 21 guns is given as an honor. The procession progresses slowly towards the Sanghumugham beach.

The Maharaja also accompanies the procession amidst tight security. On reaching the beach, a ceremonial dip is taken in the sea. Slowly the procession heads back to the temple thus marking the end of the 10-day festival.