THRISSUR: ‘Utsavabali’, one of the most important and prolonged rituals of annual temple festival being held at Lord Sree Krishna Temple here will be conducted on Monday.
The ritual is conducted annually on the eight day of the 10-day festival. After the ‘pantheeradi pooja’ at 10 am, the rituals associated with the ‘utsavabali’ will begin and will continue till 4 pm.
According to the belief, the spirits (bhoothaganagal) associated with Lord Krishna are summoned to the temple by playing a traditional musical instrument called ‘paani’, and then the ‘bali’ is performed to please the spirits. Devotees can offer prayers at ‘utsavabali’ from 11 am on Monday.
It is believed that all the 33 crore gods associated with the Hindu belief, would be present at the temple during the time of ‘utsava bali’ to see the lord and this gives utmost importance to the ritual. It is also believed that all the living creatures in the universe are served food on the day.
Birds, especially the doves seen frequently on the temple premises, would also be served grains on the occasion. Payasam will be served to the devotees taking part in the ‘prasadamoottu ceremony’ on Monday.
The ‘pallivetta’ rites will be held on Tuesday at the temple as a part of annual temple festival. It is the symbolic representation of the deity exterminating the demons of evil.
A special idol of Lord Krishna would be taken out of the temple in holy procession on Tuesday evening after the ‘deeparadhana’ ceremony. Percussionists and Krishnanattam artists carrying the sword and shield (valum parichayum) would accompany the holy procession.
Another attraction of the procession is the devotees dressed up as animals and birds accompanying the ‘thidambu’ (the replica of the deity).
After the ‘pallivetta’, the temple festival will end with the ‘aarattu’, the holy bath of the idol. Rites in connection with the ‘aarattu’ will be held on Wednesday.
‘Care Taken to Avoid iSSues’
Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee (GDMC) have taken steps to avoid any untoward incidents during the utsava bali rites on Monday, Guruvayur Devaswom officials have said. “This year no one will be allowed to enter the nalambalam of the temple during the rites. After the poojas are over, like other devotees, the committee members and their family members can offer prayers. We will be taking special care to avoid any untoward incidents,” GDMC chairman T V Chandramohan said. Last year, GDMC member N Raju and assistant manager of the temple K R Sunil Kumar had come to blows near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple during the special rites on the utsava bali day.