Guruvayur decked up for annual fest; jumbo race today

HAVING completed the purification rituals of Sahasra Kalasham and Brahma Kalasham, the Guruvayur temple is all set to celebrate its annual festival.

- GOPIKA VARRIER @Thrissur

With the entire town decked up, the celebrations will begin on Monday with the traditional elephant race, aka 'aanayottam', from Manjulal to the eastern entrance of the temple.

This is the 1,200th 'Utsavam' to be celebrated at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple, considered one of the most-visited pilgrim centres in Kerala.

The 10-day-long rituals are believed to be of huge importance in maintaining the 'chaithanyam' (energy) of the deity and its connection with the people.

While it begins with 'aanayottam', the festival ends with the ritual of 'pallivetta' in which the deity goes hunting.

According to Guruvayur Devaswom chairman V K Vijayan, preparations for the festival are in the final stage.