The holy hillock of Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush as the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Kumbhom began on Wednesday.
A large number of pilgrims, the majority of them from the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, undertook the pilgrimage to the forest shrine on the first day of Kumbhom.
Smooth darshan
Though the police and the Sabarimala Karma Samithi have been maintaining strict vigil at the pilgrim centre, anticipating a surprise turn up by young women owing allegiance to certain progressive women’s groups, the first day passed off peacefully.
The restrictions imposed on the pilgrim movement by the police was eased on Wednesday, providing more resting facility for the pilgrims at the Valiya Nadappanthal and the Lower Tirumuttom. The rituals began with Tantri, Kandararu Rajeevararu performing Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom in the morning.
Laksharchana performed
Laksharchana was performed in forenoon. As many as 18 priests took part in the chanting of mantras at the Laksharchana. Brahamkalasapuja was performed prior to Utchapuja.
The Tantri, assisted by Melsanthi V.N. Vasudevan Namboodiri, performed Kalabhapuja at the Namaskara Mandapam. The golden urns carrying Brahmakalasom (holy water) and kalabhom (specially prepared sandal paste) were taken out in a ceremonial procession, to the accompaniments of the sacred Marapani and other temple percussion, to the sanctum sanctorum for the auspicious abhishekom prior to Utchapuja. The kalabhom offered to the deity was distributed as prasadom among the devotees later.
Special rituals
Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipuja were the other special rituals performed on Wednesday. Besides all these special rituals, Sahasra-kalasabhishekom ritual will be performed on all the remaining four days.
The temple will be closed after Athazhapuja on Sunday evening, marking the culmination of the five-day monthly rituals.
