The Hindu : Heavy rush as Mandalam season begins

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Heavy rush as Mandalam season begins

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA Nov. 17. Heavy rush of devotees continued at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple for the second day today when the 41-day Mandalam annual pilgrim season began at the holy hillock.

The new Melsanthi, Gosala Vishnu Vasudevan had opened the sanctum sanctorum of the temple at 4 a.m. The Tantri, Kantaru Rajeevaru, and the Melsanthi had performed the Abhishekam ritual immediately after the Nirmalya darshan. The Maha Ganapathi homam was performed by the Tantri, later at 4-15 a.m.

Temple festival: The 10-day annual festival at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple will be held from November 20 to 29.

The Tantri, Kantaru Rajeevaru, told The Hindu that the preparatory rituals, `Praasada sudhi' and `Bimba sudhi', would be performed at the Ayyappa shrine on November 18 and 19. The Kodiyettu ceremony, marking the beginning of the 10-day festival would be held between 9 a.m. and 9-30 a.m. on November 20. The auspicious Utsavabali ritual would be held on the next eight days from November 21 to 28. The `Pallivetta' at the Saramkuthi would be held on November 28. The Arattu ceremony would be held in the Pampa on November 29.

Food supply: The free food supply by the Travancore Devaswom Board was also started at Pampa and Sannihdnam today. The TDB president, N. Babu, said the Board had served breakfast to 2,000 pilgrims at Pampa and mid-day meals to 5,000 pilgrims at the Sannidhanam.

The TDB would also supply supper to 1,000 pilgrims at Erumeli as part of its free food scheme.

TDB to meet PM: Mr. Babu said the Board would seek direct intervention of the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to remove the "hurdles'' posed by the Union Ministry of Forests in allotting more forest land for Sabarimala development. The Board would also request the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, to convene a meeting of the MPs from the State to discuss the issue in detail.

Sapthaha Yajnam: The head of the Chingoli Sri Siva Prabhakara Sidha Yogiswarashram, Remadevi Amma, will lead a Bhagavatha Saptaha Yajnam at Sabarimala from November 20 to 26.

This is the first time a woman devotee performing a Bhagavatha Saptaha Yajnam at Sabarimala.

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