The procession carrying the sacred golden attire (Thanka Anki) for the Mandalapuja at the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will set off from the Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula on Sunday.
The Thanka Anki will be taken in a motorised chariot up to Pampa and from there Ayyappa Seva Sanghom volunteers will carry it on their head to Sabarimala.
The 420-sovereign golden attire was offered to the Ayyappa temple by the late Sri Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma, head of the erstwhile Travancore royal kingdom, in 1973. Since then the TDB has been taking it to Sabarimala for every Mandalapuja.
An Ayyappa idol adorned with the Anki will be kept at the Aanakkottil of the Sree Parthasarathy temple for the devotees to have darshan from 4.30 a.m. to 6.45 a.m. on Sunday.
The deity will be adorned with the Anki prior to the Deeparadhana at the Ayyappa temple in the evening and prior to the Mandalapuja to be performed during the Utchapuja on December 27.