The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will be opened on Monday afternoon for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulam that begins on October 18.
Head priest (Melsanthi) Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri will open the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 p.m. on Monday. There will not be any rituals at the temple on Monday.
Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu, assisted by the Melsanthi, will perform the Sahasrakalasabhishekom on Tuesday.
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According to Sabarimala Executive Officer Sathishkumar, Sahasrakalasbhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom will be performed prior to the Utchapuja on all five days.
Ashtabhishekom, Udayasthamanapuja, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipuja are the other important rituals to be performed during the monthly puja.
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Selection of the head priests at the Ayyappa temple as well as the Malikappuram Devi temple for the next one-year period beginning November 17 will be held through a draw-of-lots at the respective temple sopanams on Tuesday morning. The one-year term of the incumbent head priest will end on November 16.
The Ayyappa temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on October 22 evening.
The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala.