Sabarimala pilgrimage season begins on Nov 16

Pathanamthitta, Nov 15: Sabarimala, the holy abode of Lord Ayyappa, is all set for the annual two-month long 'Mandalam-Makaravilakku' pilgrimage season.

The Lord Ayyappa temple would be opened for the 'Mandalam' festival at 1730 hrs on November 16.

'Melsanthi' (Chief Priest) E Eswaran Nampoothiri would open the sanctum sanctorum and light the ceremonial lamps in the presence of 'Tantri' Kantaru Maheswararu.

There would be no 'pooja' on the opening day. The installation ceremony of the new 'Melsanthis' of the Ayyappa temple and Malikappuram Devi temple would be held late in the evening at 'Sannidhanam' under the guidance of 'Tantri' Kantaru Maheswararu.

On November 17 morning, the first day of the Malayalam month 'Vrischikam', the new 'Melasanthi' T K Krishnan Nampoothiri would open the sanctum sanctorum.

The regular 'poojas' would commence with a 'Ganapathi Homam.' 'Neyyabhishekam' would also begin at 0415 hrs and continue till 1130 hrs.

'Mandala Pooja' falls on December 27. The Ayyappa temple would be reopened for 'Makaravilakku' festival on December 30 at 1730 hrs and the 'Makaravilakku' would be celebrated on January 14, 2008.

The temple would close on January 20 morning, marking the culmination of Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

UNI