Pallivetta of Lord Padmanabha, Thiruvananthapuram

Pallivetta, one of the important rituals held during the festival of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram. Pallivetta ritual is performed on the day prior to final day of the festival and is staged in Sundaravilasam palace at East Fort. The Head of the royal family, who is believed to represent Lord Padmanabha, shoots an arrow into a tender coconut in a fake forest created out of Elanji trees or Bullet wood twigs.

Shown here is the head of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore, Sri Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma conducting the Pallivetta as part of the Painkuni festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.