Sabarimala 'mandala pooja' tomorrow

Pathanamthitta, Dec 26 (UNI) The auspicious 'mandala pooja' will be held at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple tomorrow, marking the culmination of 41-day-long 'mandalam' pilgrimage season.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims were camping at 'pampa' and 'sannidhanam' for 'darshan' tomorrow.

The temple would be opened at 0400 hrs and ''neyyabhishekam' would continue till 1000 hrs, which would be followed by 'Kalabhabhishekam'.

Tantri Kantaru Maheswararu would perform the 'mandala pooja' between 1229 hrs and 1240 hrs.

The procession, carrying 'thanka anki' (golden attire) reached 'pampa' by noon today and was received by Pampa Devaswom Special Officer Jayaprakash, Administration Officer Vijayan, Devaswom Executive Engineer Jolly Ullas and Pampa Police Special Officer Sasidharan.

The 'Anki' was kept in front of the 'sreekovil' of 'pampa' Ganapathi temple till 1600 hrs for 'darshan'. The 'Ayyappa Seva Sangham' volunteers carried the 'anki' to 'sannidhanam'. It was received at 'saramkuthy' by Devaswom officials.

Tantri Kantaru Maheswararu and 'Melsanthi' T K Krishnan Nampoothiri received the 'Thanka Anki' at 'Sopanam' and took it inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. 'Deeparadhana' was performed at 1830 hrs after adorning the idol with the 'golden attire'.

The hill-shrine would be closed tomorrow at 2200 hrs.

It would be reopened on December 30 at 1730 hrs for 'Makaravilakku' festival.

UNI