A specially made foundation stone for the holy temple mast to be erected at the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will be taken in a ceremonial vehicular procession to the holy hillock from Chengannur on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said that the foundation stone would be laid on the temple premises in the auspicious muhurthom between 10.45 a.m. and 12 noon on Friday. Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the total cost of the proposed temple mast has been put at ₹3.20 crore and the TDB has already received 9.16 kg of gold for covering the mast.
He said a Hyderabad-based company has provided the estimated cost of the holy mast and it has been remitted to a separate bank account maintained exclusively for the same.
The ceremonial erection of the holy temple mast will be held on June 25, to be followed by the 10-day temple festival from June 27.
Ritual
Meanwhile, a Bhagavatha Saptaha Yajnom began at the Valiya Nadappanthal at Sabarimala on Monday. The ritualistic Yajnom is being led by Krishnapriya, religious scholar, from Mumbai.
Udayasthamanapuja, Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipuja were the important rituals performed at the Ayyappa temple on Monday.
Painguni Uthram will be celebrated at Sabarimala on April 9 and Vishu festival on April 14.
The Ayyappa temple will be closed after Athazhapuja on April 18.
