New head priest for Sabrimala Ayyappa temple selected

Sabarimala, Oct 17: P N Narayanan Namboodiri was today selected as the new melsanthi (Head priest) of the famous Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

He is a native of Thrikkariyoor at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which administers the hill shrine, also selected P M Manoj, from Edappal in Mallappuram district, as head priest of Mallikappuram Devi temple in Sabarimala.

Both of them were selected through draw of lots held at the temple premises today. They will serve for a period of one year.

As per tradition, head priests have to stay at the temple premises throughout the year. The ceremonial installation of the selected persons as head priests would be held on November 15.

Narayanan Namboodiri and Manoj said it was due to the blessings of Lord Ayyappa that they had got a chance to serve as head priests at the hill shrines.

The hill shrines are visited by millions of devotees during the three-month-long Mandalapooja and Makaravillaku festival seasons, starting next month.

PTI