Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala opened for monthly Poojas

Sabarimala, Sep 16 (UNI) The world famous Lord Ayyappa temple here in Kerala has been opened on Thursday evening for five-day Poojas for the Malayalam month ‘Kanni’ from September 17 to 21.
The Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the hill shrine was opened by Melsanthi (head priest) VK Jayaraj Potti in the presence of Thantri Mahesh Mohanaru (chief priest) at 1700 hrs.
However, no ritual was performed at the Sreekovil this evening as part of the ongoing practice. For the monthly Poojas, the temple will be opened on Friday at 0500 hrs. The devotess will be allowed for Darshan from September 17 morning.
Routine rituals and Poojas, including Ganapathi Homam, Usha Pooja, Uchcha Pooja, Deeparadhana and Athazha Pooja, Udayasthamana Pooja, Kalabhabhishekam, Padi Pooja and Pushpabhishekam, will be performed.
As many as 15,000 devotees, who booked through online ‘Virtual Q’ system, will be allowed for Darshan every day.
The devotees must produce certificate of two doses of COVID-19 vaccination or RT-PCR negative report, Travancore Devaswom Board PRO Sunil Arumanoor said in a press release here today.
Meanwhile, State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will run special services for devotees from September 16 to 21.
Devotees can also book bus tickets for the services from Thiruvananthapuram to Pamba route. As many as 15 KSRTC buses were arranged for chain services between Nilakkal and Pamba route.