Makaravilakku:Sabari reopens

Melshanthi N. Balamurali reopens the Sabarimala temple for the Makaramasa pooja on Friday evening. Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu looks on.

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has been opened for Makaravilakku festival on Friday.
The nada was opened by Tantri Kandraru Maheswararu and chief priest N. Balamurali at 5.30 am.
No special poojas were performed on the reopening day as per the practice. The nada was closed by 3.0 pm and Harivarasanam was held at 11.0 pm.
After opening the nada, the chief priest ignited the azhi (fire) set up in Sannidhanam. The Makaravilakku will be observed on January 15.
According to the executive officer of Sabarimala, Mr M. Sathish Kumar, the regular poojas will be performed at the temple from Saturday onwards.
“The temple nada would be opened by 3.0 am for regular poojas from Saturday onwards. No regular pujas were performed on Friday,” he said.
KSRTC will resume all inter-state bus services, which were stopped at the end of the> Mandalakalam, from Saturday.
He also said that all arrangements had been made at Pampa and Sannidhanam for the Makaravilakku festival.