The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa will open on November 15 for the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, which begins on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikom on November 16.
Melsanthi Damodaran Potti, whose one-year tenure will conclude on November 15 evening, will open the Sreekovil at 5.30 p.m. in the presence of Thantri Kandararu Maheswararu.
As a practice, no ritual will be held at Sreekovil in the evening.
Installation Ceremony of New Melsanthi: New Sabarimala melsanthi P N Narayanan Nampoothiri will be installed by Thantri Maheswararu with kalasabhishekam on the new melsanthi.
As part of the installation ceremony, the thantri will pass on the ‘moolamanthram’ of Lord Ayyappa on the ears of the new melsanthi after leading him to the Sreekovil.
As a practice, the new melsanthi will open the Sreekovil of the temple at 4 a.m. on November 16, marking the beginning of the one-year tenure.
Kalabhabhsiheakm will be the special ritual to be conducted on the first day of the Mandalam season.
As part of the ritual, Thantri Maheswararu in the presence of new Melsanthi Narayanan Nampoothiri at Mandapam at 11.30 a.m.
The ritual will conclude with Kalabhabhishekam on the idol of Lord Ayyappa during Uchcha pooja after circumambulating the Sreekovil carrying the Kalabhakalasam by the melsanthi.