The deity of Suchindram temple, Munnuthitha Nangai, was taken in a ceremonial procession to Padmanabhapuram Palace for taking part in the inter-State Navaratri festival on Saturday morning.
Though there is an inter-State dispute over Mullaperiyar and Neyyar dams for many decades, the Navaratri festival culturally binds the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Before starting its journey to Padmanabhapuram Palace, the deity was taken around the Mada Veedhi of Suchindarm Sthanumalayan Temple in a traditional palanquin.
The deity was received by a team of Kerala police headed by S. Suresh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Neyyattrinkara sub-division, with police band and taken in a procession. The deity reached the Neelakandaswamy temple in Kalkulam on Saturday night.
Navaratri is being celebrated with much fervour in Kanyakumari district during the first ten days of the month of Kanni (September-October) of the Malayalam calendar, from the days of Travancore-Cochin Kings.
The wooden palace at Padmanabhapuram, the erstwhile capital of Travancore-Cochin State, is one such place where Navaratri is celebrated in regal splendour.
The idol from Suchindram temple, along with Goddess Saraswati from Thevarakattu Temple at Padmanabapuram Palace and Velayudhaperumal (Murugan) from Velimalai in Kumaracoil will be taken to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram in a ceremonial procession prior to the commencement of the festival.
The deities of these temples will return to their respective abodes after the Navaratri festival.
Sword
The sword of the then Maharajas kept in `Upparika Malika' would be taken to Thiruvananthapuram from the Padmanabhapuram Palace on Sunday in the presence of Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, Kerala Ministers K.C. Joseph, V.S. Sivakumar and the Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping from Tamil Nadu, Pon. Radhakrishnan.
Followed by the function, a cultural programme will be held between 10 a.m. and 12 noon at the palace on Sunday, palace sources said.
