SABARIMALA: Aarattu ceremony, marking one of the concluding events of the annual 10-day festival, was performed on the bank of the Pampa, opposite of Pampa Lord Ganapathi temple on Wednesday.
The ceremony was held under the leadership of tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru in the presence of melsanthi E D Prasad Nampoothiri at 11.30 am.
As part of the ceremony, the procession carrying the “sribali” idol of Lord Ayyappa in a “thidambu” on a caparisoned elephant was took out from Sannidhanam at 9 am.
On reaching at Pampa temple, the melsanthi carried the “sribali” idol in a procession to the venue of the ceremony and the tantri performed the hour-long ritual, witnessed by hundreds of devotees.
On conclusion of the ceremony, the “sribali” was taken in a procession and kept in front of Pampa Lord Ganapathi temple for “para” offerings and darshan.
At 3 pm, procession returned from Pampa and reached Sannidhanam at 6 pm. After special poojas the temple was closed in the evening after athazha pooja and harivarasanam.