Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Anniversary of idol installation celebrated

Ritual on:The customary procession carrying Brahmakalasom to the sanctum sanctorum for Sahasrakalasabhishekom prior to Utchapuja as part of the anniversary of idol installation at the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala on Saturday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The anniversary of the idol installation at Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala was celebrated with religious fervour on Saturday.Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees from different parts of the State as well as the neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh visited the holy hillock to offer prayers at the temple.The Melsanthi (head priest), Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri, opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5 a.m. and the rituals began with the Tantri (chief priest) performing the Ashtadravya Ganapati homom.The Tantri, assisted by Melsanthi, prepared the Brahmakalasom and Sahasrakalasom (holy waters) in 1,000 small copper urns for the auspicious Sahasrakalasabhishekom performed prior to the Utchapuja.The Brahamkalasom for the Kalabhabhishekom too was prepared at the Namaskara Mandapam of the temple.The Brahmakalasoms were taken out in a customary procession, with the accompaniments of the sacred ‘marappani' and other traditional temple percussion, to the sanctum sanctorum for the Abhishekom prior to the Utchapuja.The Tantri poured the holy water and the Brahmakalasom and other Kalasoms over the Ayyappa idol, marking the culmination of the auspicious Sabhasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom.The sandal paste (kalabhom) offered to the presiding deity was distributed as Prasadom among the devotees, later.Padipuja, Ashtabhishekom, Udayasthamanapuja, and Pushpabhishekom were the other important rituals performed at the Ayyappa Temple on Saturday.The temple was closed after the Athazhapuja, later, in the evening.

Monthly ritual

The Ayyappa temple will reopen on June 15 afternoon for the monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Midhunom that begins on June 16.The five-day monthly rituals will come to a close with the Athazhapuja on June 20 evening.

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