TIRUVANANTHAPURAM

This art principle is achieved during these festivals, when the Maharaja taking the role of the protector kills the demon standing for evil. On the ninth day of the festival, a big make-believe setting for the mock-hunt, befitting the pageant is erected in front of the Sundaravilasam palace fort at Trivandrum, where the climax of the myth is enacted. The demon is shot at by the Maharaja with an arrow. The light and sound effects ably produced, make the episode real and the spectators enjoy it to the maximum. 

The procession of the deities though reaches the temple at the end, the deities are not be taken to their seats without the purificatory bath. Does not God, when descend to the sinful world get defiled? As the Utsavamurthis suffered pollution thus, they should be purified before resuming their original position. Hence the ceremonial bath on the tenth day. 

The purificatory ritual is performed to the images of Sri Padmanabha, Krishna and Narasimha at Sankhamukhan situated at the edge of the Arabian sea. This is another fascinating sight for the theists to enjoy the colourful spectacle of the procession of deities, escorted by the royal family, and lakes of bhaktas going along the 5 Km long road. These two though not come near the Dasara celebrations at Mysore in pomp and splendor, they exceed it in the observance of traditions. 

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