Painkuni Festival 2026 at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Full Schedule, Dates, Rituals, Aarattu, Pallivetta

Painkuni Festival 2026 at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trivandrum – Rituals and Festival Details

The Painkuni Mahotsavam 2026 at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be celebrated from March 24, 2026 to April 2, 2026 (Meenam 10 – Meenam 19, 1201 ME) with traditional rituals, grand processions, cultural programs, and the famous Aarattu ceremony at Shankhumukham beach.

This annual festival is one of the most important temple festivals in Kerala and is conducted under the leadership of senior Tantris and Namboothiri priests. Devotees from across Kerala and India visit the temple during these ten days to witness the sacred ceremonies.

The festival will be led by
Brahmashri Govindan Namboothiripad
Brahmashri Pradeep Namboothiripad
Brahmashri Satheeshan Namboothiripad
Brahmashri Saji Namboothiripad
Brahmashri Padmanabhan Namboothiripad

Festival Dates – Painkuni Utsavam 2026

• March 24, 2026 – Thrikkodiyettu 
• March 31, 2026 – Valiya Kanikka
• April 01, 2026 – Pallivetta
• April 02, 2026 – Aarattu at Shankhumukham

During all festival days:

• Utsava Sheeveli – 4:30 PM
• Utsava Sheeveli – 8:30 PM
• Kathakali – 10 PM onwards at Natakashala
• Cultural programs at East Nada, Thulabharamandapam, Sripadam

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Day 1 – March 24, 2026 – Thrikkodiyettu

• 03:00 AM – Palliyunarthal
• 03:30 AM – Nirmalya Darshanam
• 06:00 AM – Usha Sreebali
• 09:00 – 09:30 AM – Thrikkodiyettu
• 10:15 AM – Mannuneer Koral
• 11:00 AM – Ucha Pooja
• 04:30 PM – Nada Thurakkal
• 06:15 PM – Deeparadhana
• 07:00 PM – Utsava Sreebali
• 08:30 PM – Utsava Sreebali

Evening cultural programs include
Thiruvathira, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Classical Dance, Kathakali.

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Day 2 – March 25, 2026

• Mulapooja
• Kalashabhishekam
• Utsava Sreebali – Anantha Vahanam
• Evening dance and music programs

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Day 3 – March 26, 2026

• Kalashabhishekam
• Utsava Sreebali – Kamala Vahanam
• Bhajans, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam

Day 4 – March 27, 2026

• Utsava Sreebali – Pallakku Vahanam
• Carnatic Music, Dance, Thiruvathira

Day 5 – March 28, 2026

• Utsava Sreebali – Garuda Vahanam
• Mohiniyattam, Classical Dance, Bhajans

Day 6 – March 29, 2026

• Utsava Sreebali – Indra Vahanam
• Bhakthi Ganamela, Classical Dance

Day 7 – March 30, 2026

• Utsava Sreebali – Pallakku
• Bharatanatyam, Thiruvathira, Carnatic Music

Day 8 – March 31, 2026 – Valiya Kanikka

Special rituals include

• Kalashabhishekam
• Garuda Vahanam Sreebali
• Valiya Kanikka
• Velakali
• Kathakali

This is one of the most important days of the festival.

Day 9 – April 01, 2026 – Pallivetta

• Garuda Vahanam procession
• Pallivetta ceremony
• Special Sreebali
• Cultural programs

Pallivetta symbolizes the royal hunt performed by the deity.

Day 10 – April 02, 2026 – Aarattu

• Panchari Melam in the morning
• Procession to Shankhumukham
• Aarattu ceremony at sea
• Festival conclusion

The Aarattu at Shankhumukham beach is the grand finale where the deity is taken in procession with royal traditions.

Cultural Programs During Painkuni Festival 2026

Every day performances will be held at

• East Nada Stage
• Thulabharamandapam
• Sripadam Mandapam
• Natakashala (Kathakali)

Programs include

• Bharatanatyam
• Mohiniyattam
• Kuchipudi
• Classical Music
• Bhajans
• Thiruvathira
• Kathakali
• Velakali

Importance of Painkuni Festival

Painkuni Utsavam is one of the two major festivals of
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The festival represents

• Royal temple traditions of Travancore
• Ancient Tantric rituals
• Cultural heritage of Kerala
• Grand temple processions

Thousands of devotees attend every year.

The Painkuni Festival 2026 at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be held from March 24 to April 2, 2026, featuring traditional rituals, daily Utsava Sreebali, cultural programs, Pallivetta, Valiya Kanikka, and the grand Aarattu at Shankhumukham.

Devotees are invited to participate and receive the blessings of Lord Padmanabha during this sacred annual festival.