The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala witnessed a heavy rush as hundreds of devotees trekked the holy hills to offer prayers at the forest temple on the first day in the Malayalam month of Edavom on Sunday.
Melsanthi (head priest) Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5 a.m., and the five-day monthly rituals began with an Ashtadravya Ganapati Homam performed by Tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru by 5.10 a.m.
Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom were performed prior to Utchapuja. The chief priest, assisted by the head priest, prepared holy water in 1,000 small copper urns, and the Sahasrakalasapuja and Brahmakalasapuja were performed at the Northern Mandapam.
The golden urns carrying “kalabhom” (sandal paste) and the “Brahmakalasom” were taken out in procession, to the accompaniment of music from the sacred “marapani” and other traditional temple percussion instruments for the “abhishekom.” The sandal paste was distributed among the devotees later.
Udayasthamanapuja, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipuja were also performed.
V.S. Jayakumar, Sabarimala Executive Officer, said a Laksharchana would be performed on Monday and Wednesday.
Kalabhabhishekom, Sahasrakalasabhishekom, Udayasthamanapuja, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipuja would be held on all five days.
The temple will be closed after the monthly rituals on Thursday night.
