Sabarimala temple to open for pilgrimage tomorrow

Pathanamthitta, Nov 15 (UNI) The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala will open tomorrow for the 71-day Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.

Melsanthi M Sukumaran Nampoothiri would open the sanctum sanctorum in the evening.

E Eswaran Nampoothiri (45) of Vazhupady Illam, Thazhakkara, Mavelikkara, would be installed as the new Melsanthi of the temple by Tantri Kantaru Rajeevaru. He would assume charge for a year on December 17, the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam.

The installation of S Madhusoodanan Potti (38) of Vaikuntapurathu Kizhekkemadhom, Vettikkavala, Kottarakkara as the new Melsanthi of Malikappuram Devi Temple would also be held tomorrow. The outgoing Melsanthi M Sukumaran Nampoothiri would hand over the keys of the sanctum sanctorum to the Devaswom authorities and then climb down the holy 18-Steps.

The new Melsanthi would open the sanctum sanctorum on Friday morning and perform 'Neyyabhishekam,' which would continue till December 27, 'Mandalapooja' day. 'Pushpabhishekam' would be performed on all days.

As part of crowd control measures, 'Udayasthamana Pooja' and 'Padipooja' had been cancelled.

Additional DGP S Pulikesi took charge as coordinator of the overall security system.

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