Temple reopens for Makaravilaku

SABARIMALA, Jan 2: The sanctum sanctorum of Lord Ayyappa temple here opened on Thursday evening marking the beginning of the 20-day Makaravi...

SABARIMALA, Jan 2: The sanctum sanctorum of Lord Ayyappa temple here opened on Thursday evening marking the beginning of the 20-day Makaravilaku festival season.

Tantri Kantararu Rajivaru and Melsanthi Narayanan Namboodiri, who opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 pm, lit the lamp in front of Lord Ayyappa. No poojas were performed yesterday. Normal poojas began this morning.

A large number of devotees have been camping at Pampa for the past two days. The shrine witnessed heavy rush when the nada reopened today.

SECURITY TIGHTENED:Following an anonymous bomb threat, security arrangements were beefed up at Sannidhanam.

Police restricted pilgrims from throwing offerings into the sanctum sanctorum. Devaswom Board also stopped the operation of the conveyor belt as a precautionary measure.

The hundi, kept in front of the sanctum sanctorum, was also shifted down to the patinettam pati’, as per the direction of the police.

Board executive officer B Ramachandran Nair said that necessary arrangements had been made for the smooth distribution of appam and aravana.