The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple will be opened on Thursday afternoon for the day-long rituals to be held in connection with the anniversary of idol installation on Friday. Melsanthi (head priest) E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri will open the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday. Darshan will be allowed till 10 p.m. The rituals will begin with Tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevararu performing Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi Homom on Friday morning. The Tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi, will perform Brahmakalasa puja and Kalabha puja in the forenoon. Kalabhabhishekom will be held prior to Utcha puja. Padi puja, Ashtabhishekom, Udayasthamana puja and Pushpabhishekom will be the other major rituals to be performed at the temple on Friday. The temple will be closed after Athazha puja. — Special Correspondent
