Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala was opened on Thursday afternoon for the idol installation anniversary celebrations to be held on Friday.
Melsanthi E. N. Krishnadas Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 p.m.. The rituals at the Ayyappa shrine will begin only with Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu performing the Ashtadravya Ganapati homom on Friday morning. The Tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi, will perform the Kalabhapuja at the Namaskara Mandapam of the temple on Friday forenoon.
The golden vessel carrying the specially prepared kalabhom (sandal paste) will be taken to the sanctum sanctorum in a ceremonial procession prior to the Utchapuja. The sandal paste offered to the deity will be distributed as prasadom among the devotees later. Ashtabhishekom, Padipuja, Udayasthamanapuja and Pushpabhishekom will be the other major rituals to be performed at the Ayyappa temple as part of the anniversary celebrations on Friday. – Special Correspondent
