Thrissur, 04 August (HS):

The Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple on Tuesday launched its new virtual queue system for devotees, introducing online-booked darshan slots aimed at reducing waiting time and improving crowd management at one of Kerala’s busiest temples.

The new arrangement came into effect on August 4, with the first virtual queue darshan slot scheduled between 7 am and 8 am.

Devotees who have booked their darshan online are required to reach the temple at least 30 minutes before their allotted time and carry the receipt or confirmation of their online reservation.

A separate line has been arranged for virtual queue devotees at the northern end of the general queue complex near the temple’s eastern entrance. Preparations for the new system were completed on Monday, and dedicated personnel have been deployed to manage devotees using the facility.

Under the arrangement, virtual queue darshan will be provided in hourly slots during the morning and afternoon, with another slot available between 4 pm and 5 pm.

As many as 300 devotees will be permitted to enter through the virtual queue during each hourly slot, helping the temple administration regulate the flow of pilgrims without disrupting the existing general queue system.

The virtual queue facility is being introduced initially on a trial basis, with Tuesdays and Thursdays earmarked for the service. The system is expected to accommodate up to 2,400 devotees a day when all the allotted slots are operational.

Devotees can reserve their preferred darshan slots through the official Guruvayur Devaswom website. The online system allows pilgrims to plan their visit in advance rather than depending entirely on the conventional queue after reaching the temple.

The initiative follows a decision by the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee to introduce an online reservation facility for darshan. The system is intended to provide a more organised pilgrimage experience, particularly during periods when the temple witnesses heavy crowds.

The Devaswom is expected to assess the functioning of the virtual queue during the trial period before deciding on its wider implementation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman