Murajapam-Lakshadeepa Festival Proclaimed at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
56-day Vedic ritual set for November 20 to January 14
The proclamation ceremony for the ‘Murajapam-Lakshadeepa’ festival was held at the East Nada of the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on Thursday, marking the start of preparations for the grand 56-day ritual. Members of the erstwhile Travancore royal family—Gowri Parvathibai, Gowri Lakshmibai, and Aditya Varma—presented the proclamation chart to actor Mohanlal, who announced the festival’s schedule from November 20, 2025, to January 14, 2026.
The ‘Murajapam,’ held every six years, involves continuous chanting of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, along with the Vishnu Sahasranamam, by around 200 Vedic scholars from across South India, led by head priest Tharanallur Parameswaran Namboothiripad.
Initiated in 1747 by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the ritual culminates in the ‘Lakshadeepam,’ illuminating the temple with one lakh oil lamps on Makara Sankranti, January 14. Posts on X, like @KeralaHeritage, celebrated the event: “Murajapam’s spiritual grandeur is unmatched.”
The festival, rooted in Travancore’s history, draws thousands to the temple, one of the world’s richest, known for its 18-foot Lord Vishnu idol. The proclamation, a blend of tradition and spectacle, reinforces the temple’s cultural significance, with @TempleTales noting, “Mohanlal’s role adds star power to this sacred event.”
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