Sacred Navaratri procession begins from Padmanabhapuram with royal sword handover, to reach Kerala capital on Oct 11

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 (UNI) The traditional Navaratri procession carrying the idols of Goddess Saraswathi, Velimala Kumaraswamy and Suchindram Munnoottinanga from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram began on Friday with the ceremonial transfer of the sacred sword of the erstwhile Travancore Maharaja, marking the commencement of the annual religious journey ahead of the Navaratri celebrations in the Kerala capital. The ceremonial handover of the royal sword took place at the Uppirikka Malika of Padmanabhapuram Palace, where the sword had been preserved on a silk-covered pedestal. Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan received the sword from Padmanabhapuram Palace officer K P Sadhu. It was subsequently received…