Kochi: The holy hilly shrine of Sabarimala was opened today was on Monday (15.11.2.2021) at 5 p.m. for Mandalam and Makaravilakku Pilgrimage. The outgoing head priest of the shrine V K Jayaraj Potti opened the shrine as tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru presided over the ceremonies. The head priest walked down the holy eighteen steps of the shrine and ceremonially ignited the sacred fireplace ‘Aazhi’ situated below the shrine.
Later, the new head priest of the Sabarimala N Parameswaran Namboothiri and Malikappuramhead priest Shambhu Namboothiri took over. Special Commissioner and Kollam District Judge M Manoj was present during the ceremony.
The pilgrim season at the hilly shrine begins on the first of Malayalam month of Vrishchikam (November 16). The outgoing head priests of Sabarimala and Malikappuram will take leave from the shrine on Monday night after offering prayers before the deity.
The Mandala Pooja Festival at the shrine will be held from November 16 to December 26. Afterwards, the holy shrine will be opened for the Makaravilakku festival on December 30. The Makaravilakku festival will be held from December 30 to January 20. Pilgrims are allowed to enter Sabarimala for darshan till January 19. The mandala pooja after the deity wearing the golden attire ‘Thanka Anki’ will be held on December 26. On the Makaravilakku day on January 14 at 6.30 pm, ‘deeparadhana’ with the deity adorned with ‘Thiruvabaranam’, will be held.
