The five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Midhunom began at the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala on Tuesday.
The rituals began with the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom performed by Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu, prior to the Ashtabhishekom in the morning.
Hundreds of devotees from different parts of South India undertook the trek to holy hillock, braving heavy rain in the forests, on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
The Tantri, assisted by Melsanthi E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri, performed the Kalabhapuja at the Namaskara Mandapam in the forenoon for the Kalabhabhishekom held prior to the Utchapuja.
Major rituals
Ashtabhishekom, Udayasthamanapuja, Padipuja and Pushpabhishekom were the other important rituals performed on Tuesday.
All the rituals will be performed at the temple on the remaining four days too.
Sahasrakalasabhishekom will be performed at the temple prior to the Utchapuja from Wednesday to Saturday.
A Laksharchana will be performed at the Ayyappa temple on Wednesday and Friday and at the Malikapurm Devi temple on Saturday. The Ayyappa temple will be closed with the Melsanthi singing the divine lullaby, ‘Harivarasanam, Viswamohanom…’ after the Athazhapuja on Saturday evening.
