SABARIMALA: The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here was closed on Sunday, marking the conclusion of the 41-day long Mandala Pooja season. The Mandala Pooja ceremony, the important ritual as part of the first phase of the pilgrimage season, was held between 1l.03 am and 11.40 am under the leadership of thantri Mahesh Mohanaru.
As part of the ritual, the Thanka Anki was adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappa, followed by ‘aarati’ on the idol by the thantri in the presence of melsanthi Sankaran Nampoothiri.
Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan Nair, members P K Kumaran and Ajay Tharayil, devaswom commissioner C P Ramaraja Prema Prasad, special commissioner K Babu, devaswom chief engineer G Muralikrishnan, devaswom secretary V S Jayakumar, ADGP K Padmakumar, district superintendent of police T Narayanan, devaswom vigilance SP Gopalakrishnan, Sabarimala executive officer Renugopal and devaswom administrative officer Somasekharan Nair were present.
Meanwhile, Kalabhabhishekam was the special ritual performed as part of the Mandala Pooja. In connection with the Kalabhabhishekam, the thantri performed brahma kalasa pooja at the Mandapam of the temple at 10 am.
Kalabhabhishekam was performed during the Uchcha pooja after the procession carrying the Brahma Kalasam, led by the thantri and melsanthi, circumambulated the Sreekovil.
The temple was closed at 10.30 pm after athazha pooja and harivarasanam.
The hill abode will reopen on December 30, marking the beginning of the 21-day long Makaravilakku season.