The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is famous for its Lakshadeepam festival - a breathtaking celebration in which one lakh (100,000) oil lamps are lit across the temple premises. Lakshadeepam of Sri
Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a spiritual ritual that is an extraordinary blend of architectural beauty and community devotion. This festival is celebrated once every six years.
What is Lakshadeepam?
❀ Lakshadeepam means “lighting of a million lamps.” Held once every six years, it is the grand finale of Murajapam, a 56-day period of intense Vedic chanting (Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas).
❀ The first recorded festival was celebrated in January 1750 during the reign of King Marthanda Varma, and is a visible expression of devotion and cultural grandeur.
When is Lakshadeepam celebrated
❀ The Malayalam festival of Makaram is celebrated once every six years, usually on Makar Sankranti (January 14-15).
❀ The last festival was celebrated in January 2020, with the next edition in 2026.
Lakshadeepam Festival Highlights
❀ Lighting of lamps: Earthen and brass lamps are decorated all around the temple, gopuram, shivali path and the sacred Padmatheertham pond.
❀ Sheeveli Procession: Priests carry the idols of Padmanabha, Narasimha and Krishna in the traditional Garuda Vahana procession - usually accompanied by members of the Travancore royal family and hundreds of Vedic scholars.
❀ Along with traditional oil lamps, modern lighting is used to enhance the ambiance, making it truly spectacular.
Dress Code:
❀ Men: Traditional mundu/dhoti, no shirt under mundu.
❀ Women: Saree or long skirt; young girls in skirts/tops.
Entry during Lakshadeepam:
Only through passes (around ₹15,000 for public, ₹5,000 for staff/royal family). It gets crowded during Lakshadeepam, so plan in advance.
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