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The Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur is amongst the popular Krishna temples in India. The town itself got its name from Guru (the teacher of the Gods) and Vayu (the God of Wind). The name Guruvayur translates as 'the land of Guru and Vayu' and the temple is believed to have been created by the two divine powers.
The place is popularly called the Dwarka of South India and is also known as Bhooloka Vaikunta' which means the holy abode of Lord Vishnu. The temple is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site of South India and devotees of Lord Krishna keep visiting the place for the Lord's blessings.
Ashtami Rohini or Janmashtami is one of the famous festivals of Lord Krishna celebrated in Guruvayur temple. Janmashtami marks the day Lord Krishna was born. Devotees observe fast on the previous day and spend their day in the temple singing bhajans and chanting slokas of Lord Krishna.
Ardent Krishna devotees flock to the temple during Ashtami Rohini to have a glimpse of the sacred idol of Lord Krishna and to take part in the pujas and rituals of the festival. The prasad offered to the pilgrims incude appam and palpayasam, both of which are sweet.
The whole temple is lit up during the procession and the chuttambalam (outer enclusure) is brightly lit with lamps making the atmosphere divinely beautiful. The temple can accommodate around 20,000 devotees. The idol of Lord Krishna is decorated beautifully for darshan.
Reaching Guruvayur temple is quite easy as the town is well connected with other major cities in Kerala. Located around 30km from Thrissur, Guruvayur can be reached via road and rail. The holy town has a railway station connected to the major cities of the country. If you are travelling by air, the nearest airport is at Kochi at a distance of around 85km from the temple town.
Apart from the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, many other Krishna temples in India celebrate the Lord's birthday with great devotion. The temples of Dwarka and Mathura are popular for their celebrations in the northern part of India.
