NEW DELHI: The Udayasthamana Pooja, a special day-long ritual at Kerala’s renowned Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, will be performed on November 21, coinciding with Vrishchikam Ekadasi, the Supreme Court directed on Thursday.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order while hearing an application seeking directions for the traditional ritual to be conducted at the temple on Vrishchikam Ekadasi. The ceremony will be performed in accordance with the established traditions and customary practices of the Guruvayur Temple.
Ritual Continues from Sunrise to Sunset
Udayasthamana Pooja is an elaborate religious ceremony performed at the temple over an entire day. It begins at sunrise and continues until sunset. The observance comprises a series of 18 poojas, along with rituals such as homam and abhishekam, making it one of the temple’s elaborate traditional ceremonies. The term Udayasthamana refers to the period from sunrise to sunset, reflecting the duration of the ritual itself.
Special Significance of Vrishchikam Ekadasi
Ekadasi holds considerable religious significance at the Guruvayur Temple, attracting large numbers of devotees seeking darshan and offering prayers to Lord Krishna.
Vrishchikam Ekadasi is an important occasion in the temple’s annual religious calendar. The application before the Supreme Court specifically sought permission for the Udayasthamana Pooja to be conducted on this occasion. The ritual will accordingly be held on November 21, following the temple’s customary practices and continuing from sunrise through sunset.
