PATHANAMTHITTA: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president Prayar Gopalakrishnan has said that Perunad Sree Dharma Sastha temple would be declared as women’s Sabarimala. Talking to Express, Prayar Gopalakrishnan said as Perunad temple, where the Thiruvabharanam to be adorned on the idol of the Lord Sastha on the return journey to Pandalam from Sabarimala on the second day, would be given more facilities for the women devotees of Lord Ayyappa.
The TDB president said adequate funds would be sanctioned for providing basic facilities at Perunad temple where thousands of devotees, majority of them women, converge to worship.Nadapandalal, medicated water, retiring facilties and toilets would be set up, Prayar said. When the Thiruvabharanam procession halts on the second day, devotees would get the opportunity for darsan of the Lord after adornment of Thiruvabharanam, till 11.30 pm, he said.
The TDB president said that women in the restricted age of 10 to 50 years would not be allowed at Pampa, where the arattu ceremony of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa would be held.
Instead, women devotees would be allowed to participate in the ‘balitharpan’ ceremony to be held at Pampa on New Moon day in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam in the name of ‘Jadayu,’ Prayar said. A separate bathing ghat would be built for the women devotees to offer ‘balitharpan’ at Triveni,he said.
Hundreds of devotees participated in the reception accorded to the Thiruvabharanam procession at Perunad Sree Dharma Sastha temple on Friday afternoon.
TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan was among those who offered worship at Perunad temple. Long queues were seen for darsan after the adornment of Thiruvabharanam on the idol of Lord Sastha till 11.30 pm.