A large number of devotees from different parts of southern India trekked the holy hillock to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Wednesday.
The pilgrim centre witnessed rush on the second day in the Malayalam month of Edavom on Wednesday.
Pilgrims, including a large number of senior citizens and children, undertook the arduous climb along the Neelimala and Appachimedu stretch, braving intermittent summer rain in the forests.
Laksharchana performed
A Laksharchana was performed at the Ayyappa temple in the forenoon.
Manu Namboodiri, representative of the tantri, assisted by Melsanthi A.V. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri, performed the Brahmakalasapuja and Aarati at the Namaskara Mandapam.
The Brahmakalasapuja and Kalabhapuja as part of the Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom were also performed prior to the Utchapuja.
Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, Padipuja, and Udayasthamanapuja were the other special rituals performed at the temple on Wednesday.
Devaswom sources said Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom would be performed at the temple prior to the Utchauja on all days.
The Ayyappa temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on Saturday evening, marking the culmination of the five-day monthly rituals in the month of Edavom.
