The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has been opened on Wednesday afternoon for the five-day rituals in the Malayalam new year month of Chingom that begins on Thursday.
Melsanthi (head priest) T.M. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5 p.m. Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu, alias Mahesh, has assumed charge as the chief priest (Tantri) at Sabarimala for the next one-year period.
Laksharchana today
The temple rituals will begin with the Tantri performing the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi homom on Thursday morning. A Laksharchana will be performed on Thursday and another Laksharchana at the Maha Ganapathi Temple at Pampa on Friday.
Sahasrakalasabhishekom, Kalabhabhishekom, Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, and Padi puja would be performed at the Ayyappa temple on all the five days.
The temple will be closed on August 21 evening.
Onam festival
The temple will be reopened on September 2 afternoon for the Onam festival and the rituals will begin the next day morning.
The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on September 6 evening.