Sabarimala temple opens today for Mandala Kalam

SABARIMALA: Sabarimala Temple will open today 5 pm for the Mandalakala pilgrimage season. The ceremonial lamp at Sri Lakat will be lit by Melshanti VN Mahesh Namboothiri, in the presence of Kantar Rajeevar and his son Kantar Brahmadatta. Following this, Melshanti will descend the revered 18 steps to light the fire at the Homakunda.

Newly appointed Sabarimala Melshanti, Arunkumar Namboothiri and Malikappuram Melshanti, Vasudevan Namboothiri, will wait near the 18th step, led ceremonially to the sacred steps. After Bhagwat darshan, Arunkumar Namboothiri will enter the sanctum sanctorum for Tantri Kalasabhishekam, where he will be seated near the Ayyappa idol and recite the Moolamantra. Vasudevan Namboothiri will then assume his role as Melshanti in the Malikappuram temple.

The current Sannidhanam Melshanti, VN Mahesh Namboothiri, and Malikappuram Melshanti, PG Murali, will conclude their duties by descending the 18 steps, closing the shrine at 10 pm They will formally hand over their responsibilities to the newly appointed Melshantis, who will open Sannidhanam and Malikappuram temples tomorrow at 3 am

Pilgrims have begun gathering and as many as 30,000 devotees have secured online bookings for darshan today. Devotees will be allowed to proceed to the sanctum from 1 pm.

The pilgrimage season will continue until Mandal Puja on December 26. The temple will close temporarily afterward, reopening on December 30 at 5 pm for Makaravilakku, which is observed on January 14, culminating the pilgrimage season on January 20.

In response to concerns raised by Kerala Kaumudi regarding expired buses being used for pilgrimage, the Kerala High Court has issued a directive that no unfit vehicles be utilized for Sabarimala services. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralikrishna, has mandated CCTV surveillance to ensure security and instructed the Transport Commissioner to ensure KSRTC’s compliance. The court warned that safety measures for pilgrims are non-negotiable and promised strict action against any laxity.