Thanka Anki | Representative Image | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Sabarimala: On Monday, Sabarimala devotees welcomed the ceremonial ‘Thank Anki’ procession, the sacred golden attire of Lord Ayyappa, with all grandeur at sannidhanam. The ‘Mandala Pooja’, which marks the end to the 41-day-long Mandalam season, will be performed on Tuesday.
The ‘Thanka Anki’ procession which began from the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple arrived at Pamba on Monday noon and reached sannidhanam at 3 pm.
Minister for Devaswom K Radhakrishnan, Devaswom Board president Adv K Ananthagopan, ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, Kottayam district collector Dr PK Jayashree, Pathanamthitta district police chief Swapnil M Mahajan, Devaswom Board Vigilance Superintendent Subrahmanyan, Sabarimala special officer R Anand, and many other officials in charge of Sabarimala welcomed the ‘Thank Anki’ on top of the holy steps at sannidhanam.
Tantri Kandarau Rajeevaru and other priests received the ‘Thanka Anki’ from ‘Sopanam’ (sacred steps to the main shrine) and took it to the sanctum sanctorum. ‘Maha Deeparadhana’ after adorning the idol with ‘Thanka Anki’ was performed at 6.35 pm.
‘Mandala Pooja’ will be conducted at Sabarimala from 12.30 pm to 1 pm on Tuesday. The main shrine which will be closed after the ‘Mandala Pooja’ will open only on December 30 at 5 pm for ‘Makara Vilakku’ Festival. ‘Makara Vilakku’ will be on January 14, 2023.