Padmanabhaswamy Temple festivals (Painkuni)

About this event

The Painkuni Festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is a ten-day annual temple festival held in the Malayalam month of Meenam, generally corresponding to March or April, and is closely associated with the ritual traditions and royal heritage of Travancore. The festival begins with Kodiyettu, the ceremonial hoisting of the temple flag, and continues with daily rituals, special offerings and processions. One of its most distinctive features is the installation of five large fibreglass figures representing the Pandavas at the eastern entrance of the temple. According to the traditional belief recorded by Kerala Tourism, the figures are associated with the worship of Indra, the deity of rain. The festival also includes Pallivetta, or the ceremonial royal hunt, on the ninth day. During this ritual, the head of the Travancore royal family proceeds to the Vettakorumakan Temple in the East Fort area, continuing a longstanding association between the temple and the former royal house. The festival concludes with the Aarattu procession, during which the festival deities are taken to Shanghumugham Beach for the ritual bath. Members of the Travancore royal family traditionally accompany the procession, reflecting the enduring ceremonial relationship between the temple and the former Travancore state. The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple itself is one of Kerala’s most important Vaishnava shrines and is one of the 108 Divya Desams associated with the Vaishnava tradition. Its architecture combines Kerala and Dravidian influences, while the principal deity, Lord Vishnu, is depicted reclining on the serpent Anantha. The temple’s history is deeply intertwined with Travancore, particularly after Maharaja Marthanda Varma’s major renovation and his dedication of the kingdom to Sree Padmanabha. Painkuni also has a strong performing-arts dimension: Kerala Tourism records cultural programmes and Kathakali among the festival offerings, while Velakali, a traditional martial dance, is performed in connection with the festival. The combination of ritual observances, processions, traditional arts, the striking Pandava figures and the participation of the Travancore royal family gives Painkuni a distinctive place in Thiruvananthapuram’s annual cultural calendar. In 2026, the festival’s Aarattu was scheduled for 1 April, following Pallivetta on 31 March. The festival should be understood primarily as a religious observance, with public cultural elements forming part of its wider ceremonial setting.

🚆 Railway: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station — approximately 1 km from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

✈️ Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport — approximately 6 km from the temple.

🚌 Bus: East Fort Bus Stand is the nearest major bus point, approximately 200–300 m from the temple; regular city and regional bus services operate through the East Fort area.

🏨 Stay: Hotels and other accommodation are available in the East Fort and central Thiruvananthapuram areas. Kerala Tourism maintains an official directory of registered accommodation providers.

✅ Notes: Painkuni is a ten-day festival. For 2026, Kerala Tourism’s event calendar lists the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Aarattu on 1 April and Pallivetta on 31 March. Temple entry is subject to religious access rules; the official temple website states that only Hindus may enter and requires traditional dress, including mundu or veshti for men and prescribed traditional attire for women.