Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 23 -- The centuries-old Navaratri idol procession from the historic Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, reached Kerala's capital today, marking the formal commencement of the State's annual Navaratri celebrations with grandeur, devotion, and age-old traditions.
Following a ceremonial guard of honour by the Kerala and Tamil Nadu armed police, the grand procession set out from the palace courtyard on September 20.
The idol of Goddess Saraswati, mounted on a richly caparisoned elephant, led the procession from Thevarakettu, followed by the idols of Velimala Kumara Swamy and Suchindram Munnuttinanga, carried in elaborately decorated palanquins.
The ceremonial entry into Thiruvananthapuram too...