Painkuni Festival Date: Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Penkuni Festival, also called Penguni, is a major religious festival celebrated at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a Hindu festival celebrated annually during the Malayalam month of Meenam (March–April).
Key Features of the Painkuni Festival:
Duration: The festival lasts for 10 days, culminating with the Aarattu ceremony.
Worshiped Deities on Painkuni Festival:
❀ Lord Padmanabhaswamy (a form of Lord Vishnu)
❀ Lord Narasimha (the lion-headed avatar of Vishnu)
❀ Lord Krishna
Cultural Importance of Painkuni Festival:
❀ The festival blends devotion, tradition, and royal heritage.
❀ It draws large crowds of devotees, locals, and tourists.
Unique Traditions of Painkuni Festival:
❀ Members of the Travancore royal family actively participate in the rituals, especially the Maharaja, who leads the aarattu procession on foot.
❀ The event is marked by traditional music, Vedic chants, caparisoned elephants, and a military band, showing a fusion of temple ritual and royal pageantry.
❀ The temple complex is beautifully illuminated during the festival, and various cultural performances, including Kathakali and classical music concerts, are held throughout the ten days.
| Related Name | Penguni |
| Reason | Bhagwan Vishnu |
पेनकुनी उत्सव श्री पद्मनाभस्वामी मंदिर केरल में मलयालम महीने मीनम (मार्च-अप्रैल) के दौरान प्रतिवर्ष मनाया जाता है।
Highlights of the Festival:
❀ Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) marks the beginning of the festival.
❀ Processions: Each evening, the idols of the three deities are taken out in procession on garuda vahanas (divine eagle-shaped vehicles).
❀ Giant Pandava Statues
Massive fiberglass and wooden effigies representing the five Pandavas—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—are erected at the temple's eastern entrance. These towering figures are adorned with vibrant colors and intricate details, symbolizing the festival's connection to the Mahabharata.
❀ Arattu Procession
The festival concludes with the Arattu (holy bath) procession, where idols of Lord Padmanabha, Lord Narasimha, and Lord Krishna are taken to Shanghumugham Beach for a ceremonial immersion in the sea. The procession is led by the head of the Travancore royal family, accompanied by decorated elephants, temple authorities, and armed guards.
Related Information
Mantra
Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya
Imp Places
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Updated: Jun 10, 2025 11:45 AM
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