437 couples to tie the knot at Guruvayur temple on Sunday

Guruvayur is bracing for another day of mass weddings, with 437 couples scheduled to tie the knot on September 13, the final Sunday of Chingam. Spot bookings could push the number higher.The Devaswom has made elaborate arrangements, with six wedding mandapams and ceremonies beginning as early as 4 a.m. Additional staff and police personnel will be deployed to manage the crowds and ensure smooth darshan and wedding ceremonies.The eastern entrance will function as a one-way passage, while wedding parties must collect tokens in advance and leave through the southern entrance after the ceremony. Only 24 people, including photographers, will be allowed near each mandapam.Pradakshinam and other circumambulation rituals will not be permitted to ease congestion. CCTV surveillance will be intensified, with plainclothes police deployed to prevent pickpocketing and other anti-social activities.Drinking water, medical assistance and an ambulance will be available. Parking will not be allowed on the inner and outer ring roads; devotees have been asked to use designated parking areas.Devaswom chairman A.V. Gopinath and administrator S. Harigopal have appealed to devotees to cooperate with the arrangements. Published - September 12, 2026 06:59 pm IST