From darshan at 3 am to Gopika Nritham, Guruvayur celebrates Krishna’s birth in style
The celebrations included vibrant pookkalam (floral decorations), traditional lamp lighting, and ceremonial entries of Krishna, Radha, and the gopikas, accompanied by music.
The celebrations included vibrant pookkalam (floral decorations), traditional lamp lighting, and ceremonial entries of Krishna, Radha, and the gopikas, accompanied by music.
The celebrations included vibrant pookkalam (floral decorations), traditional lamp lighting, and ceremonial entries of Krishna, Radha, and the gopikas, accompanied by music.
Guruvayur: The Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple witnessed a sea of devotees for the Ashtami Rohini Mahotsavam, marking the birth of Lord Krishna. From as early as 3 am, when the temple opened, long queues formed for darshan.
A colourful Shobha Yatra (ceremonial procession) transformed Guruvayur into Ambadi, Krishna’s mythical birthplace. Starting from the Mammiyur Shiva Temple, the procession added traditional grandeur to the festivities.
Devotees had begun arriving a day in advance, with the Guruvayur Devaswom making elaborate arrangements to manage the crowd. Early morning rituals were followed by ezhunnallippus from Mammiyur and Perunthatta Shiva temples, converging at Guruvayur.
The celebrations included vibrant pookkalam (floral decorations), traditional lamp lighting, and ceremonial entries of Krishna, Radha, and the gopikas, accompanied by music. Traditional games like Uriyadi, devotional performances, and Gopika Nritham (dance of the gopis) kept the temple courtyard lively.
The highlight was the half-hour Jeethatha Ezhunnallippu (palanquin procession), culminating in a grand Gopika Nritham with percussion ensembles. Thousands thronged the sanctum and temple grounds to witness the finale, which brought a spiritually uplifting and spectacular close to the celebrations.