Gold-plated door taken in procession to Sabarimala shrine from Elampally Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

KOTTAYAM: The 2019 Sabarimala gold-plated door procession started from the Elampally Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Pallikkathodu with great celebration. The event was attended by Govt. Chief Whip Dr. N. Jayaraj, who was also the MLA of the place, actor Jayaram and the then Travancore Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar. The teak wood for the door was also brought from Elampally. The ceremony was conducted with the permission of the Devaswom Board, said Unnikrishnan Nair, President of the Elampally Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Advisory Committee.

The two bells weighing 120 kg on both sides of Pathinettampadi (18 divine steps) were sponsored by two people from Pallikkathodu in 2017. Even then, the procession was from the temple. This relationship is what brought the temple advisory committee closer to Unnikrishnan Potty. With the intervention of Pallikkathodu natives Ajikumar and CK Vasudevan, the wood for the door was also taken from the temple premises. The wood was brought to Guruvayur, and the door was built by a thachan (master of woodcraft) named Nandanachari. The procession ceremonies were held on March 11, 2019. The door was brought to the Elampally temple at 6 am. The chariot of the Ambalappuzha Pettathullal Sangam was prepared for the procession.

Will cooperate with any investigation

"The ceremonies were organized in the hope that the temple would gain fame. Written permission was obtained from the Devaswom Board. It is not known whether Unnikrishnan Potty collected money for this. The expenses, including the pooja, notices and ceremony, were borne by the advisory committee. No money was taken from anyone. The Elampally temple has close links to Sabarimala. The controversy saddens us. Ayyappan will bring the truth to light. We will fully cooperate with the investigation."

Unnikrishnan Nair,

Advisory Committee President,

Elampally Sri Dharma Shastha Temple