Guruvayoor Festival : Happy Birthday Unnikannan

Guruvayoor ‘Utsave’ is celebrated for ten days form ‘Puyam Nall ‘in the month of ‘Kumbham’. Elegantly decorated and buzzing with business, the temple town is very attractive at the time.
Elephant Race
Aanayottam (elephant race) is the greatest attraction in the festival .This has roots in a myth. Formerly Guruvayoor temple was under the Thrikunavaya temple. Once Thrikannamathilakam temple authorities would not sent elephants to the Guruvayoor Utsav. In remembrance of this event, on the elephant race is conducted the Utsave. Running from Manjulal near East nada of the temple, elephants enter the compound of the temple. The elephant which completes seven rounds and touch the flag post first is selected to bear the ‘Thidampu’.
On the first day evening ‘Acharyavaranam’, ‘Kody pooja’ and ‘Kodiyettam’ are the big ceremonies. ‘Kodipurathuvilaku’, another major ceremony is the procession of the Lord on ‘Pazhukka mandapam’.This ritual is performed twice - in the in the morning after’Pantheeradypooja’ on the south side; in the evening after Athazha pooja on the north of chuttambalam. People crowd in to this blissful ceremony.
‘Ulsavabali’ on the 8th day of the festival is also very important. ‘Gramapradakshinam’ ‘Pallivetta’ and ‘Arattu’are the major ceremonies of the 9th and 10th day. ‘Kodiyirakkam’ which marks the end of the festival
Vrishchika Ekadasi is another famous festival in Guruvayoor temple.
The eldest elephant among the temple’s herd pays homage to the legendary Guruvayoor Kesavan, the most celebrated elephant that belonged to the Guruvayoor temple. Also there will be ‘Chempai Sangeetholsavam’ for 11 days from the ‘Ekadasi’. 200 artists participate every day in the function.
‘Ashtamirohiny, Lord Krishna’s Birthday,is yet another famous festival of the temple. Devotees perform special poojas. Art programs and Dinner/sadya are other specials of the day.

Author : Smitha Atholi