Sabarimala to have new Sreekovil for Navagrahas

Sabarimala: The foundation stone laying ceremony for the new shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas (nine planetary deities) was held at Sabarimala on Thursday.

The newly constructing shrine is in order to relocate Navagrahas (nine celestial deities) at Sabarimala to a more auspicious site. The new shrine will be built near the Malikappuram temple. The earlier one is now relocating as per a directive from a recent devaprasnam (astrological consultation).

Consecration Day at Sabarimala

The Consecration Day was held on Thursday at the Sabarimala temple complex. The event was led by Thantri Kandararu Brahmadathan in the presence of Travancore Devaswom Board President P. S. Prashant and Board Member Adv. A. Ajikumar. Executive engineers Biju V. Nath, Shyamaprasad, and Rajesh Mohan also were present at the ceremony.

On the day of the consecration, the Sabarimala temple witnessed a large turnout of devotees. The sanctum doors were opened at 5 a.m., allowing thousands of pilgrims to offer their prayers to Lord Ayyappa. Rituals such as neyyabhishekam (ghee anointment), kalabhishekam (sandal paste offering), and laksharchana (chanting of a hundred thousand names) were performed in the morning.

Later in the day, pushpabhishekam (flower offering) and padipooja (ritual at the sacred steps) were conducted, followed by the evening athazhapooja (night worship). The day's rituals concluded at 10 p.m. with the rendering of Harivarasanam, marking the closing of the sanctum.

The temple will reopen on the June 14 at 5 pm for the Mithunam month poojas. Devotees wishing to visit during this period are required to book slots through the temple’s official virtual queue system.