Padmanabhaswamy Temple is honestly one of those places in Trivandrum where festivals don’t just happen, they sort of take over the whole area. Even if you aren’t the most spiritual person, you can’t miss the feeling when a festival is going on there. People walk faster, the street feels tighter, you hear chenda from somewhere, and you just know something big is happening inside the temple. I always feel like the temple becomes a different world during these days, filled with colours, smells, sounds, all mixed together.
Alpasi Festival
The Alpasi festival happens in the months around October or November, and this is the time when the temple feels really busy. There’s ten days of special poojas, and honestly sometimes you can’t even find a place to stand properly inside. The aarattu procession is the most exciting part. The Travancore royal family actually takes part, which is something I always found surprising because not many places still follow old traditions so seriously. The idol is carried all the way to Shankhumukham Beach for the holy bath and by the time the procession starts, the whole path from the temple to the beach feels like a living river of people. Elephants, chenda melam, lamps… it’s just very grand and honestly a bit emotional too.
Painkuni Festival
Painkuni is a festival that comes in March or April and the first thing you notice are the huge Painkuni Kodis standing inside the temple. They look so tall when you see them up close, and seeing them decorated nicely gives a special vibe. This festival is done for the Pandavas, and people believe it brings blessings to homes. I have seen families waiting in long lines just to attend a particular pooja during Painkuni because they say the energy is stronger at this time. Whether you believe or not, the temple definitely feels different. More bright, more colourful, almost like it’s celebrating something big but quietly at the same time.
Murajapam
Murajapam is honestly the calmest yet the most powerful festival there. It only happens once in six years, so when it comes, everyone talks about it. The priests chant Vedic hymns for many days, and if you walk anywhere near the temple during this period, you can actually hear the chanting floating in the air. It’s a slow and peaceful sound, and it’s weird but it gives a kind of inner calm even when you’re not trying. People say Murajapam brings prosperity and protects against negative things. I don’t know much about that but the feeling during this festival is definitely unique.
Lakshadeepam
Lakshadeepam is the most beautiful sight, maybe in the whole of Trivandrum. This comes at the end of Murajapam. When evening arrives, the temple workers start lighting thousands of oil lamps kept on almost every surface. As they keep lighting them, the entire temple begins to shine like a golden building. It actually feels unreal. The smell of oil lamps, the glow on the walls, the small smoke rising everywhere… it’s something you just stand and stare at. People travel from far just to see it once.
Navaratri Celebrations
Navaratri at this temple is more cultural than loud. The processions of Saraswati, Durga, and Murugan move slowly through the road, and you can hear classical music from the Navaratri Mandapam. Some of the best musicians come to perform here, so even if you don’t know classical music deeply, you might still enjoy the atmosphere. The area feels peaceful but festive in a soft way.
Vishu and Other Festivals
Festivals like Vishu, Thiruvonam, Gokulashtami and others are also celebrated here. People usually visit early in the morning to get blessings before starting the day. Even though these festivals happen all over Kerala, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple rituals make the day feel a little extra special because everything is more traditional.
Best Time to Visit Trivandrum
Most people prefer coming to Trivandrum from October to February because the weather is cooler and you can walk around without getting tired too fast. Also, many temple festivals happen during this period, so the city has more things happening. Summer gets hot, and monsoon rains can be heavy, but honestly Kerala has its own beauty in every season. Still, honestly, winter months are the most comfortable for tourists. It may take two or three days to cover all the places in Trivandrum, but a one-day Trivandrum trip can still cover the most important spots in a single day.
