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Heavy rush continues at Sabarimala

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA Dec. 25. The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple witnessed heavy rush for the fifth day today and the line of devotees waiting for the holy darshan of the presiding deity at Sannidhanam extended up to Marakkoottam on the trekking path.

The devotees had to wait for seven to eight hours in the queue to reach the Sannidhanam. There was also a heavy rush for the Neyyabhishekam offering at Sannidhanam and the devotees had to wait for a long time to offer the ghee for the ritual at the sanctum sanctorum today.

The procession carrying the golden attire offered to the Lord Ayyappa Temple by the Late Chithira Thirunal, `Thanka Anki,' will reach Pampa tomorrow.

The `Thanka Anki' will be taken to Sannidhanam in a procession, later, to decorate the Ayyappa idol prior to the `Deeparadhana' at 6-30 p.m. The Ayyappa idol will be adorned with the `Anki' for the Mandala poojas to be held at 12 noon on Saturday.

The Pampa Sangamam, the annual cultural festival organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board will be held at the Anjaneya Auditorium on the Ganapathi Temple premises at Pampa from January 5 to 7. The Devaswom Public Relations Officer, Mohan Perinad, told that the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, O. Rajagopal, would inaugurate the three-day festival at 5 p.m. on January 5. The TDB president, N. Babu, will preside over the function. M. Sambasivan will deliver the keynote address on the occasion. Francis George, MP, and Raju Abraham, MLA, will also address the inaugural function.

The Transport Minister, R. Balakrishna Pillai, will inaugurate the cultural meeting on January 6. Swami Sookshmananda of the Sivagiri Madhom will deliver the keynote address. The Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Dalawai Sundaram, B. Madhusoodhanan Nair and V. S. Sarma will also speak.

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