Offering 'Neyvilakku' in Guruvayur
A System that allows devotees who offer Rs 1000 worth 'Neyvilakku' (lamp lit with ghee) ritual at Guruvayur Temple to have special darshan will be implemented from April 2018 onwards. The receipt of the amount paid in the offerings counter should be presented to the temple manager. The devotees who take the receipt can enter the main shrine through the flag pole without waiting in the queue. Also they will be provided with a kit of prasadam (holy offering from the temple). Only one person can enter with the receipt of the Rs 1000 ritual. The new system is in addition to the old custom of allowing special darshan for 5 person on a receipt of Rs 4500 worth 'Neyvilakku'. Devaswom Chairman K.B. Mohandas informed that the system was implemented cosidering the request of the devotees.If the demand for 'Neyvilakku' increase, a special counter may be opened. Devaswom is introducing the system to avoid middlemen who grab money from people offering them a chance to have darshan. In addition to this, 'prasada Oottu' (offering of food) also will be added as a ritual in the temple. The devotees can take receipt for the 'prasada Oottu' as part of birthday or death anniversaryof relatives. Rs 1.3 lakh should be paid for the supply of free food three times a day. Devaswom chairman said that an online facility for 'Neyvilakku' ritual will be planned. However, the devotees in the normal queue system will not have any difficulty to have darshan. Considering the rush during vacation and the month of vaisakham, the time for darshan at noon has been extended till 2.30 pm till May. Currently, the darshan time closes by 1.30pm. Many devotees return without having despite warning in the queue for hours.
