The five-day rituals in the Malayalam month of Karkidakom came to a close with the Athazhapuja at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Friday evening.
Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu, assisted by Melsanthi T.M. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri, performed the Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom prior to the Utchapuja.
A Laksharchana was also performed at the temple in the forenoon. As many as 18 priests took part in the ritual.
A large number of devotees worshipped the auspicious Padipuja performed by the Tantri after the deeparadhana in the evening.
Pushpabhishekom, Ashtabhishekom, and Udayasthamanapuja, were the other important rituals performed at the temple on Friday.
The Melsanthi closed the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of the Tantri and Devaswom officials, marking the culmination of the five-day monthly rituals in the evening. The annual Niraputhari celebrations at Sabarimala will be held on July 30. The temple will be opened on July 29 afternoon for the Niraputhari fete.
