Heavy rush at Sabarimala

The holy hillock of Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush as devotees from different parts of South India undertook pilgrimage to the Lord Ayyappa temple on the first day of the Malayalam month of Kumbhom on Tuesday.

Melsanthi N. Balamurali opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5 a.m. and the rituals began with Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu performing the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom by 5.15 a.m. Ashtabhishekom and Neyyabhishekom were performed later.

The auspicious Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom were performed prior to the Utchapuja.

The Brahmakalasoms were taken out in a ceremonial procession to the sanctum sanctorum, with the accompaniments of the sacred Marappani and other traditional temple percussion prior to the Utchapuja. The sandal paste (kalabhom) offered to the presiding deity was distributed as prasadom to the devotees, later.

Udayasthamanapuja, Pushpabhishekom and Padipuja were the other special rituals held at Sabarimala on Tuesday.

Temple Executive Officer M. Satishkumar told The Hindu that a Laksharchana would be performed at the Ayyappa Temple on February 18.

The Ayyappa Temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on February 18 evening, marking the culmination of the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Kumbhom.

Kalabhabhishekom and Sahasrakalasabhishekom will be held at the Ayyappa shrine on the all the five days, Mr. Satishkumar said.