Sabarimala all set for Mandala puja on Saturday

The Mandala puja, with the deity adorned in golden attire, will be held at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Saturday. The auspicious time for the ritual is between 10.10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.

Pujas were held after the Thanka Anki (golden attire) was adorned on Ayyappa at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam here on Friday. The ceremonial procession carrying the Thanka Anki reached the Sannidhanam on Friday evening ahead of the Mandala puja. The Thanka Anki was adorned on the deity after it was brought in a traditional chariot procession and offered at the temple later in the evening, followed by Deeparadhana.

The Thanka Anki was offered by the Maharaja of the erstwhile Travancore for the puja several years ago.

The journey carrying the Anki began from the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple on December 23. On Friday, the procession resumed from the Perunadu Sastha temple and passed through Laha Satra, Plappally, the Nilackal temple and Chalakayam before reaching Pampa in the afternoon. Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan greeted the procession at Pampa. After a short halt, the procession moved forward and reached Saramkuthi by 5 p.m. From there, the Thanka Anki was taken to the Sannidhanam with customary rituals, officials said.

After ascending the sacred 18 steps, it was formally received by the Tantri and the Melshanthi at the Sopanam.

The golden attire was then adorned on the idol of Ayyappa, followed by Deeparadhana, which was attended by Travancore Devaswom Board president K. Jayakumar, Additional Director General of Police S. Sreejith and other officials.