Guruvayur festival concludes with ceremonial Arat 

An exhibition of Chamayam organised by the Guruvayur Devaswom at Sreevalsam Annexe hall in connection with annual festival of Sreekrishna Temple , Guruvayur.
| Photo Credit: SPL

Thrissur

The 10-day annual festival at Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple concluded on Wednesday with the ceremonial Arat.

The idol of Lord Guruvayurappan was taken in a procession to the ‘Pazhukka Mandapam’. A Deeparadhana was also held. The idol was later taken for the Arat ceremony with accompaniment of a percussion ensemble.

The ceremony was held at the Rudratheertham pond. Thousands of devotees took the holy dip on the occasion. The 10-day festival concluded with the Tantri lowering the ceremonial flag.

Thousands of devotees took part in Pallivetta ceremony, held on the 9th day of the festival on Tuesday. The Thidambu of the deity was taken out of the temple after Deeparadhana in the evening (Gramapradakshinam).

A large number of people, dressed as birds and animals, were part of the Pallivetta ritual, a symbolic hunting expedition of the deity. Krishnanattam artistes were dressed as soldiers. A female elephant Devi carried the deity.

Later, the tired deity takes rest (palliyurakkam) at the specially arranged palliyara namaskara mandapam outside the sreekovil. The palliyunarthal was the first ritual of the 10th day of the festival on Wednesday. The Lord was waken up to the cry of a calf, which will be arranged on the temple compound.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of rare Chamayam items was held in Sreevalsam Annexe hall on March 18 and 19. Rare mural paintings, old Pazhukka Mandapam, Krishnanattam chamayam, and elephant accoutrements were among the items exhibited. This is the first time Guruvayur Devaswom is organising such an exhibition.

Thousands of people took part in the festival feast (Prasada Oottu) held in the festival days.