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Navarathri Sangeetholsavam

Navarathri Sangeetholsavam

Navarathri Sangeetholsavam is a prestigious classical music festival held annually at the Navarathri Mandapam of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. This tradition, spanning over two centuries, was institutionalized by the legendary composer-king Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. The festival features nine days of concerts where acclaimed vocalists perform the specific Navarathri Kritis composed by the King in various ragas. A unique aspect of this event is its strict adherence to tradition: the concerts are held in a soot-blackened, oil-lamp-lit hall with natural acoustics, and performers are accompanied only by traditional instruments. It remains a pinnacle for Carnatic musicians and enthusiasts across India.

Oct 11–21, 2026
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Alpashi Utsavam

Alpashi Utsavam

Alpashi Utsavam is a significant bi-annual festival held at the iconic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Celebrated during the Malayalam month of Thulam (October/November), the ten-day event is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The festival culminates in the magnificent Aarat procession, where the temple deities are carried to Shangumugham Beach for a ritual purification bath in the Arabian Sea. A unique tradition of this festival is the participation of the members of the Travancore Royal Family, who escort the idols on foot with drawn swords, maintaining centuries-old royal customs.

Oct 11–20, 2026
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala