Sabarimala opened for the Makaravilakku
Thousands and Thousands thronged and offered their prayers at the Ayyappa temple here as it was opened for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage on Monday afternoon.
The Pampa Manalpuram turned into a sea of humanity with a multitude of pilgrims congregating for the customary holy dip in the Pampa before climbing the hills.The head priest (Melasanthi), P.M. Narayanan Namboodiri, accompanied by the chief priest (Tantri), Kandararu Maheswararu, and other priests, opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 p.m. The rituals will begin with the Tantri performing Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati Homom on Tuesday morning followed by Ashtabhishekom and Neyyabhishekom.
The “Saranam Ayyappa” mantra filled the air
of the sacred grove in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. A large number of pilgrims
from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been camping at Pampa and
Nilackal for the past three days, awaiting the reopening of the temple closed
after the 41-day Mandalam festival in the evening of December 26. They were
permitted to climb the hills only on Monday afternoon.
The famous Pettathullal at Erumely, a major base camp of Sabarimala pilgrims that t houses another ancient Sastha temple and the historic Vavar Mosque in Kottayam district, will be held on January 11.
The procession carrying Thiruvabharanam (sacred jewellery) for the Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala will set off from the Valiyakoickal Sastha temple at Pandalam in the afternoon ofJanuary 12. The sacred ornaments of the presiding deity will be carried on head all the way to Sabarimala. It will reach the Sannidhanam in the afternoon of the Makaravilakku day on January 14.
Tens of thousands of devotees from
different parts of the country are expected to congregate at Sabarimala and
other vantage points to worship Makaravilakku and Makarajyoti.The temple will
be closed after the customary exclusive holy darshan of the royal designate in
the morning of January 20.
