Sabarimala temple closed

The ceremonial procession carrying sandal paste for the Kalabhabhishekom ritual performed at the Malikappuram Devi temple on Friday.

The five-day monthly rituals at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala came to a close with the Athazhapuja on Friday evening.

A Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom were performed at the Ayyappa shrine prior to the Utchapuja. The Tantri, Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu, assisted by the head priest (Melsanthi), E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri, and other priests, prepared the holy water in 1,000 small copper urns and the Brahmakalasom.

The Kalabhapuja was performed in the forenoon. The Kalabhabhishekom was performed at the Malikapuram Devi Temple, too, prior to the Utchapuja on Friday.

The Brahmakalasom and the sandal paste (kalabhom) were taken out in a ceremonial procession for the ritualistic abhishekom held around 12.30 p.m. Ashtabhishekom, Padipuja, Udayasthamanapuja and Pushpabhishekom were the other important rituals performed at the Ayyappa temple on Wednesday.

ABASS cleaning drive

The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom deployed 300 volunteers attached to its Karanataka unit at Sabarimala and Pampa for an intensive cleaning operation.

According to the sanghom general secretary, N. Velayudhan Nair, the volunteers will continue the cleaning drive on Saturday too in an effort to keep the pilgrim centre clean and hygienic. The temple will be reopened for Onam on August 26 afternoon.

The Melsanthi will host the Uthradasadya at the Sannidhanam on August 27.

A devotee from Seethathode will host the Onasadya on the Thiruvonam day on August 28. The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on August 30 evening.