SABARIMALA: A V Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri, 57, of Mangalathu Azhakathu Mana, Kodakara, Thrissur, will be the new melsanthi of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. Anish Nampoothiri, 38, of Varikkom Illam, Mainagappally, Kollam, will be new melsanthi of Malikappuram Devi temple.At present Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri is functioning as the melsanthi of Azhakathu Durga temple under Cochin Devaswom Board. He was selected via a draw of lots under the supervision of special commissioner M Manoj in front of the sreekovil of the temple after Usha pooja at 8 am on Tuesday.
Anish Nampoothiri is the melsanthi of Mannorkavu Bhagavathi temple at Mainagappally in Kollam district. The name of the new melsanthi of Sabarimala temple was selected by Soorya Anoop Varma, 8, daughter of Anoop Varma and Sanghya Varma of Pandalam Mangalodayam Palace.
Anish Nampoothiri was selected as the new melsanthi of Malikappuram temple by Hridaya Varma, 7, daughter of Sajeev Varma and Dhanya Varma of Pandalam Kaippuzha Thekkedathu Palace. Devaswom and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, members Ajay Tharayil and K Raghavan, Devaswom commissoner C P Ramaraja Prema Prasad and Sabaraimala executive officer Chandasekharan were present on the occasion.