: The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala was opened on Thursday for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam moth of Edavom that begins on Friday.
Head priest E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 p.m. Chief priest Kandararu Rajeevararu will conduct the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom on Friday morning, marking the start of the rituals .The Tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi, prepared the ‘kalasom’ (holy water) in 1,000 small copper urns for the Sahasrakalsabhishekom ritual to be performed at the Ayyappa temple prior to the ‘utchapuja’ on the first day in the month of Edavom.
The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on May 19 evening.
