The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom (ABASS) will deploy 2,000 volunteers for transporting from Pampa to Sabarimala Sannidhanam the treated teakwood which is to be installed as the new mast at the Ayyappa temple complex.
ABASS general secretary N. Velayudhan Nair told The Hindu that 1,500 volunteers would be from Tamil Nadu and the remaining 500 from Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. “All the volunteers have started a 21-day strict penance (vrithom) for taking part in the task, which they consider a sacred mission,” he said.
He said the Sanghom workers would serve medicated drinking water to volunteers. Thanchavur Damodaran from Chennai will lead the Sanghom’s free stretcher service unit.
The volunteers will carry the treated teakwood on their shoulders to the hillock situated 4.5 km away from Pampa on May 22. They have to take extra care not to let any part of the wood touch the earth.
The wood will be fixed to the foundation prepared on the temple premises on May 26. The installation will be held between 11.50 a.m. and 1.40 p.m. on June 25.
The Travancore Devaswom Board’s decision to replace the old mast came on the basis of the recommendations made by Vasthu experts followed by an astrological consultation at Sabarimala.
The teak tree suitable for the mast was identified in the Konni forests. The tree was felled and a crane was used to carry the wood without letting it touch the earth. The wood was brought to Pampa in a specially prepared carrier in September 2015.
The carpentry on the teakwood was done at an enclosure at Anjaneya Auditorium at Pampa. The chiselled wood was wrapped and immersed in a tank for medicated oil treatment for six months.
The old temple mast was dismantled on February 16 and the foundation stone for the new mast was laid on April 7.
