An age-old custom has turned out to be a thriving fad in Kerala, as more and more couples prefer to get married in temples. But the Sri Krishna temple in Guruvayoor is perhaps the only shrine where scores of brides and grooms queue up to tie the nuptial knot.

Every visitor to Guruvayoor is witness to the sight of young couples, patiently waiting for their turn to ascend the marriage mandapam outside the eastern entrance to the temple.

The number of marriages held every day ranges from 35 to 100. The temple recently registered a record in this regard, when 185 couples were united in wedlock on a single day, reveals temple administrator S Ayyappan Nair.

The striking advantage of Guruvayoor is that marriages can be held here on any day and at any time. Hindu marriages are normally avoided in the Malayalam months of Midhunam, Karkatakam and Kanni. But, in Guruvayoor, marriages take place even during these inauspicious months. But the marriage frenzy reaches its zenith during Chingam (August-September), the most auspicious month of the year.

At Guruvayoor, marriages can be held any time between 5 to 12.30 am and 4.30 to 8.30 pm. Preference, however, is given to the morning session.