The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala will be opened on Thursday afternoon for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Edavom that begins on Friday.
Melsanthi E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri will open the sanctum sanctorum, in the presence of the Tantri (chief priest), Kandararu Rajevararu, at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi, will prepare the Sahasrakalasom (holy water) in 1,000 small copper urns at the Northern Mandapam in the evening for the Sahasrakalasabhishekom ritual to be performed prior to the Utchapuja on the first day in Edavom.
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However, the temple rituals will begin with the Tantri performing the auspicious Ashtadravya Ganapathi homom on Friday morning, according to the Devaswom Executive Officer, V.S. Jayakumar.
Udayasthamanapuja, Ashtabhishekom, Sahasrakalasabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipuja will be held on all the five days.