A view of the Sabarimala hill shrine
Chief priest E D Prasad will open the sanctum sanctorum and light the lamp in the presence of head priest (thantri) Kandararu Brahmadathan, after which the sacred fire will be kindled in the hearth below the 18 holy steps. The draw for melsanthis will be held at sopanam (near the steps of sanctum sanctorum) at 7.30am, after the usha (morning) puja, led by special commissioner R Jayakrishnan and devaswom commissioner B Sunilkumar. Chief minister V D Satheesan and devaswom minister K Muraleedharan are scheduled to visit the shrine on Oct 17 for darshan. The shrine will close at 10pm on Oct 22.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news. The draw for the Malikappuram chief priest will follow at Malikappuram temple. The shrine will remain open on Mahanavami and Vijayadashami (Tuesday and Wednesday) days this year for the first time in decades. Download the TOI App.
Kottayam: Sabarimala temple will open at 5pm on Saturday for Thulam month puja, with the draw to select the chief priests (melsanthis) for Lord Ayyappa and Malikappuram temples scheduled for Sunday morning. The shrine will open for darshan from 5am on Sunday, the first day of Thulam.