Kuchela Dinam at Guruvayur temple today

 

The day is observed on the first Wednesday of the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January) as per the traditional Hindu calendar followed at the temple.

 

Starting from the wee hours on Wednesday after the sanctum sanctorum is opened, the devotees will line up outside the temple to offer their packets of beaten rice at the 'namaskara mandapam' in front of the sanctum sanctorum and at the 'thripadi' -- the steps of the shrine.

 

The offering of beaten rice before the idol symbolises an event described in puranas in which the poverty-stricken Kuchela, a childhood friend of Sree Krishna, visited the latter in his palace carrying a handful of 'aval', which was all he could afford, and how he became a ‘Kuberan’ (rich) overnight. 

 

Temple officials said the 'aval' brought by the devotees will be offered for the pantheeradi (noon) pooja and athazha (night) pooja at the temple.

 

Guruvayur Devaswom has bought beaten rice worth Rs 2.5 lakh to make special 'aval' mixed with jaggery, cardamom, cumin seeds, ghee etc. to be given to the devotees.