Sabarimala opens for prayers

Pathanamthitta, Aug 16 (UNI) The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala opened for prayers in the Malayalam month of 'Chingam' today.

Melshanti M Sukumaran Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum and lit the ceremonial lamp.

Kantareru Rajiveru, who assumed charge as the new Thantri of Sabarimala for a one year term, was also present on the occasion.

During 'Chingapulari', the first day of the Malayalam New Year, pujas on the hill shrine will begin with a 'Ganapathi homam' followed by 'laksharchana'. The Thantri will fill a 'Brahmakalasam' with sacred ash and place it at the shrine. About 25 Brahmin scholars would chant 'Ayyappa sahrasanamam' and the 'brahma kalasam' would then be taken into the sanctum sanctorum and 'abhishekam' performed.

'Udayastamana pooja' and 'padi pooja' would be performed on five days till August 21, when the shrine would be closed.

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