Aarattu Festival:

One of the major yearly celebrations held in the ancient Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, which is strongly connected to the Travancore Royal Family, is the Painkuni Festival. This famous temple, which has a centuries-long history and is situated in the Thiruvananthapuram region, is an important part of the cultural and spiritual legacy of the former princely state of Travancore.
The kodiyettu, or raising of the ceremonial flag, marks the beginning of ten days of lavish festivities and rites. Massive fibreglass representations of the Pandavas and Mdash, the five sons of Pandu from the Indian epic Mahabharata, are installed outside the temple's eastern gate to commemorate Painkuni, which takes place in March and April. As part of the customs of the celebration, these figures are thought to appease Indra, the Rain God.
There are unique ceremonies and offerings on each day of the celebration. The palli vetta (royal hunt) ceremony, which is carried out on the ninth day by the head of the Travancore Royal Family close to the Vettakorumakan Temple in the Fort region, is one of Painkuni's highlights. The royal traditions and customs that have been upheld over the ages are reflected in this symbolic hunt rite.
The aarattu parade, a spectacular event where the idols are transported to Shanghumugham Beach for ceremonial submersion in the sea, marks the festival's conclusion. The king and other male members of the Travancore Royal Family accompany the gods in this parade, which is a show of devotion and magnificence. The festival is a major cultural event in Kerala because of the royals' participation in the procession, which gives it a special appeal and historical continuity.
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple's Painkuni Festival, which combines spirituality, tradition, and royal legacy, attracts both tourists and devotees to see the temple's magnificence and take part in its rich cultural customs.
Take in the magnificence of the Alpashi Utsavam.The two main yearly celebrations at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, are known as the Aarattu Festival (Painkuni/Alpashi Utsavam). They are led by the Travancore Royal Family and feature magnificent processions and a holy sea bath (Aarattu) for the deities at Shanghumugham Beach. The Painkuni is held in March or April, while the Alpashi is held in October or November. The sacred immersion of idols in the sea is the culmination of these ten-day activities, which include decked elephants and cultural rites. The extravaganza even causes Thiruvananthapuram Airport to alter its flight schedule.

Important Features of the Festivals:
Two Festivals: Painkuni (March–April) and Alpashi (October–November) are the two main Aarattu festivals that the temple celebrates.
Grand Procession: The temple's deities are transported from the temple to Shanghumugham Beach for a ceremonial sea bath in a major procession known as the Ghoshayatra.
Royal Involvement: The procession is led by the Travancore Royal Family's titular head, signifying the family's longstanding ties to the temple.
Cultural Features: The celebration includes a lot of devotees, music, cultural acts, mounted police, and captive elephants.
Painkuni specifics; include a royal hunt (Palli Vetta) rite and the installation of fibreglass figurines of the Pandavas.
Details of Alpashi: Also called Alpashi Arattu, it's a significant celebration with comparable elaborate rites, such as the final "Lakshadeepam" (illumination of 100,000 lamps).
Unusual Custom: The procession path passes via Thiruvananthapuram Airport, necessitating short-term changes to the flight schedule.