Sabarimala Mandala Pooja today; Deeparadhana performed for Lord Ayyappa draped in Thanka Anki

Sabarimala: The divine form of Lord Ayyappa adorned with the golden Thanka Anki (golden attire) offered a blessed and unforgettable sight on Friday, for devotees who trekked through forests and hills to reach the hill shrine.

The ceremonial procession carrying the golden Thanka Anki for the Mandala Pooja reached Sabarimala at around 6.30 pm on Friday. Thantri Kandaru Mahesh Mohanaru accepted the Thanka Anki and carried it into the sanctum sanctorum.

The deity was then adorned with the golden attire, followed by the performance of Deeparadhana in the evening. The sanctum and the Sannidhanam were illuminated by rows of camphor flames, as chants of “swamiye sharanam Ayyappa” echoed through the sacred grove, reflecting the golden glow.

The Mandala Pooja will be held on Saturday between 10.10 am and 11.30 am, with Lord Ayyappa again adorned with the Thanka Anki.

The Thanka Anki was offered by the Maharaja of Travancore for adorning Lord Ayyappa during the Mandala Pooja. The ceremonial procession began from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple on Tuesday morning, earlier this week. On Friday afternoon, Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan received the procession at Pampa.

The ceremonial procession was received at the base of the flagstaff by Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar, board members P D Santhosh Kumar and K Raju, Devaswom Commissioner B Sunil Kumar, Devaswom Secretary P N Ganeshwaran Potti, Chief Engineer Ranjith K Shekhar, and ADGP S Sreejith, before being escorted to the Sopanam.

This year’s Mandala festival will conclude with the closing of the temple doors at 10 pm after reciting ‘Harivarasanam’ on Saturday night.

The temple will reopen on the December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival.