Supreme Court directs Udayasthamana pooja to be held as per Guruvayur temple practices

The Supreme Court on Thursday (October 8, 2026) passed an interim order that the Udayasthamana Pooja must be held in accordance with the age-old practices of the famed Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple in Keralam.

A Bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar remarked the faith and sentiments of worshippers must be given precedence over management hurdles.

The petitioners led by P.C. Hary and members of traditional managing families, represented by senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, had challenged decisions by the Guruvayur devaswom managing committee to alter or reschedule the Udayasthamana Pooja on Vrishchikam Ekadasi.

​The management, represented by senior advocates CA Sundaram, V. Giri and advocate Rohini Musa, had argued that the performance of the rituals during Ekadasi was faced by logistical challenges posed by the massive influx of devotees on that particular day.

“I have myself stood for seven hours,” Justice Kumar said, indicating it was part of the devotional expression. The court said it would list the main appeal in December for final hearing.

The petitioners had moved the apex court after the Kerala High Court had dismissed their pleas for a direction to the temple devaswom to ensure the conduct of the Udayasthamana pooja on Vrishchikam Ekadasi. In October last year, the apex court had passed a similar order allowing the conduct of the pooja on the Ekadasi day which fell in the month of November.

Mr. Hary had argued that the pooja was a sacred and integral part of the temple’s ritualistic tradition.

“Until 2023, the Udayasthamana pooja was invariably performed on Vrishchikam Ekadasi day, and it is only during the last two years, 2024 and 2025, that the respondents have attempted to alter this well-established religious practice. Such arbitrary decisions by the respondents strike at the very root of the traditional practices of the temple, which have been observed for several centuries. The Udayasthamana pooja on Vrishchikam Ekadasi is not merely symbolic but a series of nearly 15-18 poojas that are conducted from sunrise to sunset,” the petitioners had submitted.