Guruvayur festival begins: Flag hoisting on Saturday, Arattu to mark final day
Guruvayur: The annual temple festival at Guruvayur Sri Krishna Swamy Temple, one of the most important Vaishnavite pilgrimage centers in Kerala, will begin on February 28 and conclude with the Arattu ceremony on March 9. The festival is celebrated over ten days during the Malayalam month of Kumbham.
On the flag-hoisting Saturday night, the traditional Seeveli ritual procession will be conducted without elephants. This practice commemorates the period when Lord Guruvayurappan did not have temple elephants. The famous elephant race (Aanayottam) will take place at 3:00 PM the same day.
The festival officially begins with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag on the temple’s flagstaff(Kodiyettu).
Festival Schedule Highlights
Day 2: Special Seeveli after the morning rituals.
Day 3: Grand Seeveli procession accompanied by elephants.
Day 4: Beginning of Utsavabali, with ritual offerings made to various deities within the temple premises.
Day 5: Procession of the deity accompanied by Panchavadyam and traditional temple percussion ensembles. Special food offerings (Annadanam) are arranged for devotees.
Day 6: Cultural performances gain prominence, including classical art forms such as Kathakali, Ottanthullal, and Krishnanattam.
Day 7: Illuminations and special prayers, with the entire temple glowing in ceremonial lamps.
Day 8: Pallivetta, symbolizing the divine hunting expedition of the deity, followed by evening fireworks.
Day 9: Seeveli conducted as a prelude to the Arattu.
Day 10: Arattu ritual bath ceremony, lowering of the festival flag, and a grand fireworks display marking the conclusion of the festival.