Kochi: P N Mahesh of Putillath Mana in Enanallur, Muvattupuzha, in Ernakulam is the new melsanthi (chief priest) of the hill shrine of Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district, media reports said.
The appointment of Mahesh, who is the head priest of Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple in Thrissur, is for a duration of one year.
P G Murali Namboothiri is the new chief priest of Malikappuram Devi temple. Murali, who hails from Anjoor Poongat Mana, was the chief priest at Ayyappa Swamy Temple in Hyderabad, for 25 years.
Both the appointments were made through lots by a panel of priests shortlisted after interviews by the temple administration.
Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is inside Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Over 1.5 crore visit every year in the temple where the presiding deity Lord Ayyappan is celibate. Pilgrims belonging to any religion can visit the temple which is open during the days of Mandala pooja in mid November to the last week of December. The shrine is also open during Makaravilakku festival falling in the middle of January coinciding with the transition of the Sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara). It also opens during Maha Thirumal Sankranti in April and the first five days of each Malayalam month.
Sabarimala gets new priests
