Thiruvananthapuram: The historic Navaratri processions from temples of Tamil Nadu will enter Kerala on Thursday afternoon. Traffic restrictions will be put in place between Neyyatinkara and Kaliyikkavila. Vehicles heading to Kanyakumari from the capital can travel via Vellara-Kulashekharam and Bhoothapandi route to reach Nagercoil.
The traditional procession carrying Navaratri idols from the temples of Sucheendram, Kumarakovil and Padmanabhapuram Palace in Tamil Nadu will reach the state border at Kaliyikkavila by 3 pm. On Thursday, Tamil Nadu government officials received the udaval, the traditional sword, from minister Kadakampally Surendran. Port Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Travancore Devasom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan also accompanied the procession.
Tamil Nadu officials will accompany the processions till the border where a guard of honour will be accorded by the Kerala police. By around 8 pm the procession will halt at Neyyatinkara Krishna temple. On October 1 morning, the procession will start from Neyyatinkara and will reach Nemom in city limits by 11.20 pm.
After the reception by tehsildar, poojas will be held and the procession will reach Karamana by 6.30pm. The journey will conclude at Padmanbhaswamy temple by 7.30 pm. The idols will be worshipped at Navaratri mandapam here and royal family will offer golden gooseberries to the deities. The procession will return from city on October 13 and a guard of honor will be given before bidding them adieu.
