GURUVAYUR/SABARIMALA: Tens of thousands of devotees gathered in Guruvayur and Sabarimala to witness the Vishu Kani darshan. In Guruvayur, the Kani, arranged by Keezhshanti after thrippuka. It will be displayed in the Mukhamandapam from 2.45 am to 3.45 am on Monday, while in Sabarimala, the Kani darshan, prepared by the temple priests, will be displayed from 4 am till 7 am. Both shrines attracted large crowds, with devotees eagerly lining up to view the beautifully arranged Kani, which includes items such as dried yam, coconut, jackfruit, mango, cucumber, jasmine flower, grantham, valkannadi, gold, new currency, new dhoti, and Kanikonna flowers.

In Guruvayur, the Kani arrangement features a decorated gold thidambu placed on the ponpeetham. An additional Kani is prepared in the Namaskara Mandapam outside the shrine. Devotees will be mesmerized by the sight of Krishna playing the flute, wearing Peethamabara silk and Guruvayoorappan’s golden thidambu. Following the Vishu Kani darshan, customary pujas such as Vakacharthu and Abhishekam will be performed, and a Namaskara Sadhya will be offered to the Lord, with dishes like Kalaan, Erissery, Varuthupperry, and Idichupizhinja Payasam. The ‘vilakku aaghosham’ of this Vishu is funded by the family of the late Thekkumuri Haridas, a London-based businessman hailing from Guruvayur.

In Sabarimala, the Vishu Kani will be first shown to Ayyappa Swamy before being presented to the pilgrims. Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, his son Kandararu Brahmadatthan, and Melshanthi Arunkumar Namboothiri facilitates the Vishu Kani darshan. Additional Kani arrangements were made at Malikappuram and Pampa Ganapathi Kovil. Neyyabhishekam and other rituals will commence after the Kani darshan has concluded. To manage the large crowds, extra police personnel are deployed across Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilakkal.