Ekadasi Festival

The most important festival at Guruvayur Temple is Ekadasi. There are  24 Ekadasis in a year and the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi which falls in the month of Vrichika is considered to be special. As per Lunar Calendar, there are two Pakshas every month, viz, Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha.  In Shukla Paksha, the Moon grows and become brighter every day after Amavasi and finally reaches the status of Full Moon (Poornima) and in Krishna Paksha, the Moon fades every day after becoming Full Moon and finally reaches Amavasi.  Ekadasi Vilakku Mahotsav begins  a month before the Ekadasi day and on each day during these thirty days, the Vilakku Vazhipad is sponsored by eminent  persons, families and Government as well as private organisations like Department of Posts, Courts, Police Department, State Bank of India and many such Institutions  On Dasami and Ekadasi days, devotees will get continuous darshan throughout the day.  On all the thirty days of the festival, the entire temple will be illuminated by Chuttuvilakku.  Lakhs of devotees visit the temple during this festival  It is also also believed that Lord Krishna had rendered Geethopadesam on the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi day in the month of Vrichika. 

Chembai Music Festival

During the Ekadasi Mahotsav, Chembai music festival is also organized in which thousands of Carnatic Musicians from different of the Country participate. Children who learn music also take this opportunity to  conduct the arangettam.  Having Arangettam at the Temple premises is considered to be a blessing from Lord Krishna  

Utsavam

The Annual festival of Guruvayur Temple known as Utsavam is a ten days' event in the month of Kumbha which comes during February-March. As a part of Utsavam, there will be processions, illumination and fire-works and the entire temple city will be having a festival look.  All the buildings will be illuminated and there will be arches at junction points. The Utsavam with Arattu of the God on the 10th day. 

Ashtami Rohini

Ashtami Rohini day  in the month of  Chingam is the birthday of Lord Krishna. The birthday is celebtrated with gaiety and fervour. On this day, devotees offer Appam and Palpayasam which are considered to be the most preferred  offerings for Lord Krishna. 

Kucheladinam

Kuchela Dhinam is celebtrated on he first Wednesday in the month of Dhanu (December). It is based on the story that the closest childhood friend of Lord Krishna, Kuchela was living in poverty.  He decides to meet Lord Krishna seeking some help but he had nothing to offer to Lord Krishna. Finally, he visits Lord Krishna with a small pack of Avil (Parched rice) but he was reluctant to show it Lord Krishna.  Lord Krishna realised the reason behind Kuchela's visit and also accepted the Avil. Kuchela did not disclose anything about the poverty and returned. On his return he was surprised to see that his small house had become a palace and his wife and children in new clothes and ornaments.  Following this tradition, devotees offer Avil to Lord Krishna on this day with the firm belief that all their problems would be resolved 

Mandala Pooja

Lakhs of devotees from Kerala and other neighbouring States visits Sabarimala for Ayyappa Darshanam  and enroute they visit Guruvayur Temple for the  Darshan of Lord Krishna.  As a part of this, Mandala Kalam of 41 days is observed at Guruvayur temple  from the first day of the  Vrishchikam Month.  The famous Guruvayur Ekadasi festival, Melpathur statue installation day, Narayaneeyam day and Kuchela day also occur during Mandala Kalam and there will be heavy rush at the temple during this period.  Special arrangements are also made at the temple  for 'kettunira' and 'malayidal' for devotees who wish to visit Sabarimala.

Saraswathy Pooja

Of the 9 days of the Navarathri festival, the last three days are specially sacred for goddess Saraswathy who presides over the world of learning and fine arts. Children are initiated into learning on the last day known as Vidyarambham day. The training in Krishnanattam, Kathakali, Kalaripayattu, (traditional martial art-form of Kerala) etc. generally begins on this day.

Thiruvonam

On the Uthradam day of the month of Chingam (August- September), thousands of devotees bring "Kazhcha kulas" (bunches of Banana) as offering to the Lord. These bananas are given to all the elephants of Guruvayur Devaswom on the same day or next day. On Thiruvonam day, free Onam feast with Pazhaprathaman is given to thousands of devotees.

Nira Puthari

It means new rice. It is a formal beginning of the use of rice from the new harvest season for offering in the temple. Puthari payasam is offered to Lord; it takes place in the month of Chingam.

Vaishakha

The Vaishakha is the lunar month starting from new moon of Medam (April-May). The Vaishakha vratham (fast) is auspicious and sacred to Vishnu. The vratham can be followed in the routine of morning ablutions , feeding the poor, keeping fast, taking prasadams from the offerings to the Lord and participating in the divine discourses. The third day of this month - Akshaya-thrithiya - birth day of Balarama, is the most auspicious. Palpayasam is the main offering and feast is also arranged during the entire Vaishakha month.

Vishu

The first day of Medam ( mid April) is the new year day for Malayalees. People believe that the fortunes for the next year depend on the nature of the objects one sees in the morning of Vishu. For this purpose, Kani (an omen) with articles like yellow flowers, rice, betel nuts, golden coins etc. is displayed in front of the deity. Thousands prefer to see Kani at Guruvayur on Vishu morning. Crowds stay overnight inside the courtyard of temple, which is specially permitted on this day. They close their eyes and set their eyes on the Kani and deity, as the doors are opened at 2.30 am for darshan.

Samkrama

The Samkrama Sandhyas, a very auspicious occasion for worship of the Lord, is observed by the devotees on the eve of each Malayalam month in the spirit of intense devotion and piety. Thousands of people stream in to the temple for a darshan of the Lord at the time of Deeparadhana. Spiritual discourses and various cultural programmes befitting Hindu faith are held at Melpathur Auditorium.