Navaratri Sargotsavam, an annual celebration of art, spirituality, and knowledge, will be held at Kesari Bhavan here from October 9 to 21, 2026, with Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar scheduled to attend as chief guests.
The festival will begin with the Mahasaraswatha Puja at 5.30 p.m. on October 9. The rituals will be led by Subrahmanya Adiga, chief priest of the Kollur Mookambika Temple.
The formal inauguration will be held at 5.30 p.m. on October 11. Calicut University Vice-Chancellor P. Ravindran will light the ceremonial lamp. Actor Vivek Gopan will be the guest of honour, while Seema Jagran Manch national chief patron A. Gopalakrishnan will deliver the keynote address.
The 10-day festival will feature lectures by scholars and performances by leading artistes. A cultural conference at 5 p.m. on October 16 will be inaugurated by Mr. Radhakrishnan. Mr. Arlekar and Swami Chidanandapuri will attend the function.
The first Sarga Kesari Award, instituted by the festival committee for outstanding contribution to painting, will be presented to artist P.R. Rajendran by the Vice-President.
The festival will also feature bhajans by various groups, a Bommakolu exhibition organised by the Matru Samiti, a Jayaraj film festival, and competitions in classical music, light music, painting, and quiz for students. Yoga sessions led by prominent yoga teachers will be held every morning.
As part of the festival, the Kozhikode Film Society will screen films directed by filmmaker Jayaraj at 2 p.m. every day. According to the organisers, the Navaratri Sargapratibha Award will also conferred on him for his contribution to art, literature, and culture. The award, comprising ₹25,000 and a sculpture, will be presented by the Governor at a cultural conference at 5.30 p.m. on October 19.
Published – October 08, 2026 08:57 pm IST
