Guruvayur in Keralam braces for wedding rush; 422 ceremonies to be held on August 23

Guruvayur is gearing up for a massive rush of devotees and wedding parties, with 422 weddings booked for August 23 alone, followed by 338 on August 30 and 320 on September 13.

With the numbers expected to put the temple town under exceptional pressure, the Guruvayur Devaswom has drawn up a special crowd-management and security plan to ensure that both darshan and wedding ceremonies proceed smoothly.

A high-level gathering chaired by Devaswom chairman A.V. Gopinath decided to deploy additional police personnel for crowd management. The Devaswom will coordinate with the police to manage the crowds and ensure the safety of devotees and wedding parties.

Weddings from 4 a.m.

On August 23, 30 and September 13, weddings will begin as early as 4 a.m. to complete the ceremonies on time. Six mandapams will be arranged for the thalikettu. The eastern nada will function entirely as a one-way passage to regulate the flow of devotees.

Wedding parties, including the bride and groom, have been asked to arrive early and collect their tokens from the counter at the new nadapanthal on the southern nada near the Melpathur Auditorium. After which they will be allowed into the Melpathur Auditorium and then directed to the wedding mandapam at the eastern nada.

After the ceremony, wedding parties must leave through the southern nada, they can wait there until their turn. They will not be permitted to exit through the eastern nada.

Limit on people

Only 24 residents, including photographers, will be allowed near the mandapam along with the bride and groom. Families have been urged to keep the number of residents accompanying the couple to the minimum possible.

Given the anticipated crowds, some of the rituals like pradakshinam and sayana pradakshina will not be permitted on the three high-rush days.

Devaswom employees, security personnel and police will assist devotees and wedding parties. Police personnel in plain clothes will also be deployed inside the temple.

All CCTV cameras inside and outside the temple and throughout the temple town will be urgently checked and made operational. With an exceptional rush expected, devotees have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel to Guruvayur on the three dates.

Parking will not be permitted on the temple Inner Ring and Outer Ring roads. Vehicles must be parked only at designated parking centres. While routes will be kept clear for ambulances and fire engines in emergencies.

, drinking water will be made readily available around the temple premises.