416 weddings in seven hours: Keralam’s Guruvayur sets a new record
Temple witnesses a wedding marathon on Chingam’s first Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 334 marriages held on September 8, 2024
On Sunday, August 23, 2026, the Sreekrishna Temple in Guruvayur, Kerala witnessed an unprecedented event where 416 couples exchanged vows in just over seven hours, breaking the previous record of 334 marriages set on September 8, 2024. The ceremony commenced at 4.10 a.m. and concluded by 12.45 p.m., with brief intermissions for the Ushapooja and Pantheeradi Pooja.
The record-breaking figure surpassed the initial estimate of 442 weddings, including spot bookings. The auspicious day began with Devaswom chairman A.V. Gopinath lighting the ceremonial lamp at the first wedding mandapam on the eastern entrance. A cascade of traditional music filled the air as Kannur-Thalassery native Arnav Mohan Kumar married Vidya Anand Raj, followed by five more couples taking the stage in the subsequent mandapams.
To ensure seamless proceedings, a significant security and support operation came into play, with over 100 civil police personnel deployed around the temple, fire and rescue services standing by for emergencies, and medical personnel from the Devaswom Medical Centre operating an emergency camp at the southern entrance. The Guruvayur municipality also sent representatives to assist in the arrangements.
By the end of the morning, the extraordinary wedding rush had successfully concluded, with 416 couples exchanging vows in a single morning.
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