The 41-day annual Mandalam pilgrim season began at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikom on Sunday. The sacred grove (poonkavanam) witnessed heavy rush as hundreds of devotees thronged the hillock to offer prayers in the early morning hours of the first day of the pilgrim season. Sudheer Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum at 3 a.m. and the Sannidhanam resonated with high-pitched ‘Swamiyei, Saranam Ayyappa’ chants. The rituals began with chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Maheshwararu Mohanararu, performing the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom in the morning. The 41-Mandalam pilgrim season will come to close on December 27.

Source: The Hindu November 17, 2019 18:56 UTC