PATHANAMTHITTA: Kaleekkal Madom N Parameswaran Namboothiri has been selected as the new Melsanthi of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. The selection was made by drawing lots. Kuruvakkad Sambhu Namboothiri has been selected as the Melsanthi of the adjoining Malikappuram Devi temple.

The selections were made by drawing lots from a panel of priests shortlisted after the interviews conducted by the Travancore Devaswom Board. Parameshwaran Namboothiri was one of the nine candidates shortlisted for the post of Melsanthi.

The draw of lots took place on Sunday morning after the morning rituals. The children of the Pandalam Palace took the lot to select the Melsanthis to the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples. Sabarimala Special Commissioner M Manoj and High Court Observer N Bhaskaran supervised the draw.