The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala was opened on Monday for the five-day rituals in the Malayalam month of Kanni that begins on Tuesday.
Melsanthi V.N. Vasudevan Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5 p.m.
The Melsanthi also lit the sacred fire (aazhi) at the Lower Tirumuttom. Devotees offer broken pieces of ghee-filled coconuts in this fire as part of their pilgrimage.
The rituals at the temple will begin with the Tantri performing the auspicious Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom on Tuesday morning. A kalabhabhishekom will be performed prior to the Utchapuja on Tuesday. Padipuja, Ashtabhishekom, Udayasthamanapuja and Pushpabhishekom will be held on all five days.
The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on September 21 evening.