The Utsava begins in the evening with Thrikodiyettu — the flag-hoisting that formally inaugurates the 6-day temple festival. The Harivarasanam carries the day to its close.
From Naveekarana to Utsava
The 11-day Naveekarana Kalasam ended this morning with the Nadathurakkal — the great opening of the Sreekovil after three nights of closed-door rituals — and Kani kanikkal, the first auspicious sight of the renewed deity. The temple is now spiritually awake, and the Utsava begins this evening as celebration.
Acharyavaranam (Renewed)
The Utsava is its own arc with its own arc of rituals. The day reopens at 5:30 PM with the Deeparaadhana and Acharyavaranam — the formal renewed invitation of the Priest to officiate the 6-day festival. This is a sister-rite to the Acharyavaranam at the very start of Day 1 of Naveekarana, performed again to consecrate the priestly officiation for the festival arc.
Thrikodiyettu — The Flag-Hoisting
At 7:30 PM the Thrikodi — the temple flag — is hoisted on the Dhwajasthamba (Flagstaff, installed on Day 9 of Naveekarana). The flag-hoisting is not symbolic alone: in Tantric architecture the Dhwajasthamba represents the spinal cord of the deity, and the raising of the flag is the formal announcement to the cosmos that the temple is now in its Utsava mode — a state of heightened, outward-facing celebration. The flag will remain hoisted until the close on Day 6.
The day ends with Athazha Pooja, Sreebhootabali, and the Harivarasanam — the traditional Malayalam lullaby for the Lord with which every day of the festival will close.