All preparations have been made for the 10-day festival at Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala beginning on June 28. The festival will begin with the Kodiyettu ceremony on Wednesday. Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu will hoist the ceremonial flag.
The Utsavabali ritual will be performed at the temple after the Utchapuja on all days from June 29 to July 6.
The Pallivetta will be held on July 6 evening and the ceremonial Arat marking the culmination of the 10-day festival will be held in Pampa in the foothills of Sabarimala on July 7.
The Tantri will bring down the ceremonial flag as soon as the Arat procession returns to the temple premises. The Ayyappa temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja, later.
Jayarajan, a 22-year-old elephant attached to the Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple, was taken to Sabarimala on Tuesday to take part in the parade to be held as part of the festival.
