KOTTAYAM:
The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will open for ‘Chithira Aattatirunal’ festival on Thursday evening.
Chief priest (Melsanthi) A K Sudheer Namboothiri, accompanied by Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru will open the sanctum sanctorum in the evening and the rituals will begin next day morning.
The temple will close after Athazhapuja (night puja) on Friday. Devotees will not be permitted to the temple during these days.
The temple will reopen for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season on November 15. The newly selected Melsanthis for the Ayyappa temple and the Malikappuram Devi temple, V K Jayaraj Potti and Reji Kumar M N Nambuthiri, will take charge on the occasion.
The devotees who have booked for darshan through the virtual queue system will be permitted entry to the hill shrine from November 16. (Agency)
