The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala continued to witness heavy rush on Saturday as thousands of devotees undertook pilgrimage on the fourth day of the Malayalam month of Kumbhom. Devaswom Executive Officer D. Sudheeshkumar told The Hindu that the work on the new door for the sanctum sanctorum of the temple was getting ready. New doorHe said the carpentry work of the new door had already been completed. Carpenters, assisted by priests, checked the measurement of the copper-plated wooden door by placing it at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of TDB president A. Padmakumar. The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on Sunday evening, marking the culmination of the five-day monthly rituals.

Source: The Hindu February 17, 2019 02:33 UTC