SABARIMALA: The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here was opened on Tuesday for the five-day monthly pooja for the Malayalam month of Kanni. The melsanthi opened the Sreekovil of the temple at 5.30 pm in the presence of thantri. As an ongoing practice of the temple, no ritual was held at the Sreekovil in the evening.
Laksharchana, Sahasrakalasam and Kalabhabhishekam will be the special rituals to be conducted during the monthly pooja days. As part of the Sahasrakalasam to be held on the first day of the Malayalam month on Wednesday, Sahasrakalasa pooja was conducted under the leadership of the thantri at Sopanam at 7 pm.
The ritual will be concluded with kalasabhishekam on the idol of Lord Ayyappa during Uchcha pooja. In connection with Kalabhabhishekam, the thantri will conduct Brahmakalasa pooja at the Mandapam of the temple at 10.30 am. The ritual will conclude with Kalasabhishekam on the idol of the Lord after taking out the procession carrying the Kalabhakalasam led by the thantri.
Udayasthamana pooja, Pushpabhishekam and Padi pooja will be the other rituals to be conducted on all the days of the monthly pooja. The hill shrine will be closed on September 21 evening, marking the conclusion of the five-day monthly pooja.