The lord Ayyappa temple of Sabarimala, Kerala’s famous mountainous Hindu pilgrim centre, opened on Wednesday evening for the 66-day annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage.
The 41-day Mandalam pilgrimage would start on the morning of Thursday, the first day of the Vrischikam month of the Malayalam calendar.
The sanctum sanctorum of the lord Ayyappa temple was opened by the outgoing Melshanti (head priest), TM Unnikrishnan Namboothiri, overseen by traditional chief priest of the shrine, Tantri Mahesh Mohanaru, on Wednesday evening in the presence of thousands of pilgrims.
The adjoining shrine of Malikappuram Devi also opened on Wednesday. The outgoing Melshanti first opened the sanctum sanctorum, lighted the holy lamp inside, conducted the usual Pooja and came down the holy 18 steps to the temple courtyard where he lighted the fire column, Aazhi, as the Mantra of “Saranam Ayyappa” rose from the lips of thousands of devotees reverberating in the mountain area.
later, AV Unnikrishnan Namboothiri of Azhakath Mana, Kodakara near Chalakudy in Thrissur district and Aneesh Namboothiri of Varikkam Illom at Mainagappally in Kollam district, were installed as the Melshantis for the next one year for the lord Ayyappa shrine and the Malikappuram Devi temple respectively.
The Mandalam pilgrimage would start on Thursday morning with the new Melshanti, Unnikrishnan Namboothiri, opening the sanctum sanctorum of the lord Ayyappa shrine for regular Poojas. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri and Aneesh Namboothiri were selected as head priests on October 17 through draw of lots from a group of shortlisted candidates.
The first phase of the pilgrimage lasting 41 days will come to an end with the closure of the sanctum sanctorum at 10.00 PM on December 26 (the eleventh day of the Dhanu month of Malayalam calendar) after the Mandala Pooja.