October 2026 Navarathri & Vijayadashami Celebrations | Kent Ayyappa Temple
Navarathri & Vijayadashami Celebrations 2026 🌺
Kent Ayyappa Temple invites devotees and families to join our special October 2026 programme, including Mahalaya Amavasya Sarva Pitru Tarpanam, Navarathri Poojas, Shasti Prayer, Navarathri Cultural Celebrations, Saparivara Vidya Rajagopala Mantrarchana, Pooja Veppu, Vijayadashami and Vidyarambham, and our new Sanathana Kid Zone. All devotees are warmly welcome. Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!
KENT AYYAPPA TEMPLE
October 2026 – Navarathri, Vijayadashami & Special Programmes
Kent Ayyappa Temple
1 Northgate, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LS
Website: www.kentayyappatemple.org
Kent Ayyappa Temple warmly welcomes devotees, families and members of the community to participate in a series of special spiritual, religious, cultural and educational programmes during Navarathri and Vijayadashami 2026.
The October programme includes Navarathri Poojas, Mahalaya Amavasya Pitru Tarpanam, Shasti prayers, home poojas, cultural performances, Vidyarambham, Vijayadashami celebrations and a special children’s educational programme.
🌺 MAHALAYA AMAVASYA – SARVA PITRU TARPANAM
Homage to Departed Ancestors
Saturday, 10 October 2026
From 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM
📍 Kent Ayyappa Temple
1 Northgate, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LS
Mahalaya Amavasya is an auspicious occasion to offer Tarpanam (water offerings) and Pinda Daan in remembrance of departed ancestors and to seek their blessings.
Priests will guide devotees through the offerings and rituals.
Limited places are available and prior registration is required to arrange the necessary materials.
📞 Contact: 07838 170203
🌺 NAVARATHRI 2026
Devotional Celebrations at Kent Ayyappa Temple
Sunday, 11 October – Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Kent Ayyappa Temple will observe the sacred Navarathri period with special daily Poojas and prayers dedicated to the Divine Mother and the deities associated with the Navarathri tradition.
Navarathri Programme
| Date | Day | Programme / Time |
| 11 October 2026 | Sunday | Navarathri Begins – Durga Pooja (Day 1) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 12 October 2026 | Monday | Durga Pooja (Day 2) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 13 October 2026 | Tuesday | Durga Pooja (Day 3) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 14 October 2026 | Wednesday | Lakshmi Pooja (Day 4) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 15 October 2026 | Thursday | Lakshmi Pooja (Day 5) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 16 October 2026 | Friday | Lakshmi Pooja (Day 6) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 17 October 2026 | Saturday | Saraswathi Pooja (Day 7) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 18 October 2026 | Sunday | Saraswathi Pooja (Day 8) – From 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
| 19 October 2026 | Monday | Saraswathi Pooja (Day 9) – From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Vijayadashami / Vidyarambham – From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM & From 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
🙏 All devotees are cordially invited to participate and receive the divine blessings of Navarathri.
🕉️ SAPARIVARA VIDYA RAJA GOPALA MANTRARCHANA
Special Navarathri Home Pooja
11 October 2026 – 20 October 2026
As part of the Navarathri celebrations, Kent Ayyappa Temple is arranging Saparivara Vidya Rajagopala Mantrarchana.
During Navarathri, the priest will visit devotees’ homes and perform the special pooja and Mantrarchana.
Important Information
- Period: 11–20 October 2026
- Priest will visit devotees’ homes and perform the pooja.
- Limited to 9 families only
- Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
📞 For registration and further information:
07838 170203 | 07985 245890
07846 145510 | 07733 164881
🪔 SHASTI PRAYER – LORD SUBRAMANYA
Special Shasti Prayer & Deeparadhana
Friday, 16 October 2026
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Devotees are invited to participate in the special Shasti prayer and devotional programme dedicated to Lord Subramanya (Murugan) during the sacred Navarathri period.
The programme will include devotional prayers and Deeparadhana.
🙏 All devotees are welcome to participate and seek the blessings of Lord Subramanya.
💃 NAVARATHRI CULTURAL & DANCE CELEBRATIONS
Celebrating Indian Classical Arts and Culture
18 October – 21 October 2026
Kent Ayyappa Temple is pleased to present a special Navarathri Cultural Celebration, bringing together Indian classical dance and traditional performing arts as part of the Navarathri festivities.
The programme features talented artists and performers representing different classical dance traditions.
Featured Artists
Suchithra Kochuveettil
BFA – Bharatanatyam
Disciple of RLV Kumari in Bharatanatyam
Disciple of Dr. Padmini Krishnan in Kuchipudi
Arunima Jayan
Disciple of Shri Sundarom Master
(Sundharodhya Kalashtrem)
Vineeth Vijaykumar Pilla
Kathakali
Disciple of Kalamandalam Vijayakrishnan Unnithan
Remya Arun Krishnan
Founder of Harah Dance
Disciple of Haripadman
Keerthana Jithesh
Bharatanatyam Dancer
Opening Programme
Sunday, 18 October 2026 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
📍 Kent Ayyappa Temple
1 Northgate, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LS
The temple welcomes devotees, families and members of the wider community to enjoy and support these traditional Indian cultural performances during the auspicious Navarathri celebrations.
🪔 POOJA VEPPU
Sacred Beginning of Vidyarambham Celebrations
Sunday, 18 October 2026
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
The temple will conduct Pooja Veppu as part of the Vijayadashami and Vidyarambham celebrations.
Devotees may bring books and other educational materials for the traditional Pooja Veppu ceremony.
🌸 VIJAYADASHAMI & VIDYARAMBHAM
A Sacred Beginning to Learning
Wednesday, 21 October 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Vijayadashami is traditionally considered an auspicious day to begin learning and education.
Kent Ayyappa Temple warmly invites children and families to participate in the special Vidyarambham ceremony.
Morning Programme
- Ganapathi Homam – 8:00 AM
- Vidyarambham ceremony – 10:00 AM
Evening Programme
- Deeparadhana
- Vidyarambham ceremony evening– 6:30 PM
Special Nivedyam
Ottayappam Nivedyam will be offered for Lord Ganapathi.
Ayyappa offering will also be available.
Families wishing to participate in Vidyarambham are encouraged to contact the temple committee in advance.
🌼 VIJAYADASHAMI CELEBRATION
Wednesday, 21 October 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The temple will celebrate Vijayadashami, marking the culmination of the Navarathri festivities.
The celebration will include:
🕉️ Ganapathi Homam
📖 Vidyarambham
🪔 Deeparadhana
🌸 Special Ottayappam Nivedyam for Lord Ganapathi
🙏 Ayyappa offering
All devotees and families are warmly invited to participate in this auspicious celebration.
📚 SANATHANA KID ZONE
Monthly Ayyappa Pooja – Special Children’s Session
Saturday, 24 October 2026
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Kent Ayyappa Temple
1 Northgate, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LS
Kent Ayyappa Temple is pleased to introduce the Sanathana Kid Zone, a monthly children’s session held alongside the Monthly Ayyappa Pooja.
The programme aims to help children understand and learn about Hindu traditions, culture, values and Dharma in an enjoyable, engaging and age-appropriate way.
The one-hour session will include:
📖 Storytelling
🎲 Fun Games
💡 Fun Educational Activities
The programme provides an opportunity for children to learn, participate, make friends and develop an appreciation of Hindu cultural and spiritual traditions.
Important Notice
Children under 7 years of age must have an adult present.
Parents who are interested in their children attending the session are requested to contact the Temple Committee in advance.
📞 For further information:
07838 170203 | 07985 245890
🙏 ALL ARE WELCOME
Kent Ayyappa Temple warmly welcomes devotees and families from across Kent and the surrounding areas to join us for these auspicious Navarathri, Vijayadashami, Vidyarambham, cultural and children’s programmes.
We look forward to celebrating these sacred occasions together as a community and seeking the blessings of Lord Ayyappa, Lord Ganapathi, Lord Subramanya, Goddess Saraswathi, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Durga and all the Divine Deities.
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa 🙏
Kent Ayyappa Temple
1 Northgate, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LS
🌐 www.kentayyappatemple.org
📞 07838 170203 | 07985 245890
📞 07846 145510 | 07733 164881
