Tourism Ministry sanctions Rs 3 lakh for Navaratri celebrations in Kerala
Tourism Minister for State (I/C), Govt. of India, K J Alphons has sanctioned Rs 3 lakh for the Navaratri celebrations in Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, which is slated to be held on October 21.
The amount will be handed over to the Travancore Navaratri Utsava Trust. “The Navratri celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram carries a rich legacy of almost 200 years. It is necessary to protect Kerala’s great historical heritage,” said the minister.
The Navaratri festival is celebrated in Travancore from AD 972 onwards. This is the first time that the celebration is receiving financial aid from the central government.
The Navarathri festival in Thiruvananthapuram begins from Padmanabhapuram palace with a procession carrying the idol of Goddess Saraswathi Devi. The erstwhile royal family of Travancore receives the procession, which reaches the temple premises by the eve of the festival day.