Sabarimala temple in Kerala closed till November 5

The ritual concluded with Kalasabhishekam on the idol of Lord Ayyappa during Uchapooja in the afternoon.

Female devotees return to the base camp after their progress was blocked by protesters guarding the Ayyappa temple on Monday | Shaji Vettipuram

SABARIMALA: THE hill abode of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala was closed on Monday, marking the conclusion of the five-day monthly poojas for the Malayalam month of Thulam.

Sahasrakalasam and Kalabhabhishekam were the special rituals performed at the temple on the concluding day of the monthly poojas. As part of the Sahasrakalasam, thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru performed kalasa pooja at Soopanam on south of the temple sreekovil on Sunday afternoon in the presence of melsanthi Unnikrishnan Namboothiri.

(From left) Braving the heavy downpour, devotees make their way to the Ayyappa temple; a baby has his

vilichucholli

prayaschitham

sanesh

The ritual concluded with Kalasabhishekam on the idol of Lord Ayyappa during Uchapooja in the afternoon. Kalabhabhishekam was the special ritual offered to the lord on Monday.

In connection with the ritual, the thantri performed Brahmakalasapooja at the mandapam of the temple in the presence of the melsanthi.

Kalabhabhishekam, marking the conclusion of the ritual,  on the idol of the lord was performed during Uchchapooja after the procession carrying the Brahmakalasam led by the thantri circumambulating the sreekovil of the temple. Udsyastamana pooja, Padipooja and Pushpabhishekam were the other rituals performed at the temple. The sreekovil was closed at 10 pm after Athazhapooja and Harivarasanam.

The hill shrine will reopen on November 5 for the one-day celebration of Chithira Attathirunal, the birth anniversary of Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the erstwhile king of Travancore royal family, on November 6. Kalabhabhishekam will be the special ritual to be performed on the day.