SABARIMALA: The hill abode of Lord Ayyappa here will be opened on Friday for the five-day monthly poojas for the Malayalam month of Karkidakom. The Sreekovil of the temple will be opened by Melsanthi Sankaran Nampoothiri in the

presence of Thantri Mahesh Mohanaru. No rituals will be performed at the Sreekovil in the evening as an ongoing practice of the temple. Laksharchana, Sahasrakalasam and Kalabhabhishekam will be the special rituals to be conducted during the five days of the monthly poojas. Kalabhabhishekam and Laksharchana will be conducted on the first day of the Karkidakom month on July 16.

In connection with the Kalabhabhishekam, the thantri will perform Brahmakalasa pooja at the Mandapam of the temple at 10 am in the presence of the melsanthi. The ritual will conclude with Kalabhabhishekam on the idol of Lord Ayyappa during the Uchcha pooja after the procession carrying the Brahmakalsam led by the thantri circumambulating the Sreekovil. As part of Laksharchana, the thantri will conduct kalasa pooja at the Mandapam at 6 am, followed by chanting of Vedic mantras by a dozen scholars.

The ritual will conclude after kalasabhishekam on the idol of the Lord during the Uchcha pooja. Udayasthamana pooja, Padi pooja and Pushpabhishekam will be the other rituals to be performed at the temple on all the days of the monthly poojas. The hill shrine will be closed on July 20, marking the conclusion of the five-day Karkidakom poojas, after Athazha pooja and Harivarasanam at 10 pm.

Thantri Mahesh Mohanaru’s one-year rotation term will end on the concluding day of the Karkidakom monthly poojas on July 20. Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru will take charge as the new thantri for a one-year rotation term on August 16.