Sabarimala temple opens chanting swamiye saranam, darshan only till 8 pm

SABARIMALA: The Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage began with the chanting of Ayyappa shranams. Melsanthi V K Jayaraj Potty opened the sanctum sanctorum and lighted the lamp in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu. After lighting the lamps in the temples of the deities, he descended the eighteenth steps and lit the fire to the aazhi.

Devotees thronged the temple for the mandala puja which marked the culmination of the 41-day annual pilgrim season.

The newly selected melsanthis for the Ayyappa temple and the Malikappuram Devi temple, N Parameswaran Namboothiri (Sabarimala) and Shambhu Namboothiri (Malikappuram Devi temple), were consecrated. The new melsanthis will hold charge of their respective temples for the next one year.

The outgoing melsanthi V K Jayaraj Potti and Malikapuram melsanthi Rajina Namboodiri returned home at 1 am. The new melsanthis will open the sanctum sanctorum early Tuesday morning on the first of Vrischikam. Devaswom Minister N Radhakrishnan, new devaswom board president advocate K Anandagopan and member Manooj Charalel have reached Sabarimala.

Permission has been given for darshan only to those who have got prior permission in virtual queue. Spot registration has been temporarily suspended. Bathing will not be allowed in Pampa river. Either certificate of having taken two doses of vaccine or RTPCR certificate taken in 72 hours should be produced.

There is a facility for Covid test in Nilakkal. Devotees can stay at Sannidhanam till 8 pm.

There is padipooja on all days this time. Padipooja is performed every day as many of the padipoojas that were supposed to be performed during monthly poojas were cancelled due to Covid and the pilgrims' ascent ends before 8 pm.