Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, his wife, Saraswathi Sathasivam, and son Srinivas, visited the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala and offered prayers on Sunday.
The 65-year-old former Chief Justice of India and his family ascended the steep Neelimala and Appachimedu hills, part of the five-km Pampa-Sanidhanam path, along with other devotees from different parts of the country, braving rain in the forest in the afternoon.
Travancore Devaswom Board member P.K. Kumaran received the Governor on his arrival at Pampa at 4 p.m. Devaswom Commissioner P. Venugopal, Executive Officer V.S. Jayakumar, and Auperintendent of Police, Vigilence, Gopakumar received him with a Ponnada at the Valiya Nadappanthal at the Sannidhanam by 6.45 p.m.
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The Governor and his family offered prayers at the Ayyappa temple, Malikappuram Devi temple, and other associated shrines.
He will return to Raj Bhavan after the Nirmalya darshan at the temple on Monday, Mr. Jayakumar said. A 20-member police-official team accompanied the Governor.
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Melsanthi-designate E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri of Ezhikode Mana, Panjal, Thrissur, offered prayers at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Sunday.
“I am here as per the divine will of Swami Ayyappa,” he told The Hindu. Mr. Namboodiri was accompanied by his paternal uncle Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri, who had served as Sabarimala Melsanthi.
The entire atmosphere was charged with Saranam Ayyappa chants as the devotees came to know that the new Melsanthi-designate was offering prayers with them.
The Melsanthi selection was through a draw of lots at the temple ‘sopanam’ on Saturday.
The Melsanthi-designate offered prayers at the Malikappuram Devi temple and other associated shrines. He called on Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu.