New Sabarimala Melsanthi Takes Charge

New Sabarimala melsanthi Sankaran Nampoothiri distributing prasadam to the devotees after opening the sreekovil of Lord Ayyappa temple after taking charge for a one-year term on Tuesday | shaji vettipuram

SABARIMALA:  New Sabarimala melsanthi Sankaran Nampoothiri took charge on the first day of the annual Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season on Tuesday by opening the Sreekovil of the hill shrine in presence of thantri Mahesh Mohanaru. After Nirmalyam, the thantri along with melsanthi distributed prasadam to the devotees who gathered in front of the Sreekovil.

Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, Travancore  Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, member Ajay Tharayil, devaswom commissioner C P Ramaraja Prema Prasad,  special commissioner K Babu, Sabarimala devaswom executive officer Renugopal and administrative officer Somasekharan Nair were present on the occasion.Meanwhile, Kalabhabhishekam was the special ritual held on the first day of the Mandala pooja. As part of the ritual, the thantri conducted Brahmakalsa pooja at the mandapam of the temple in the presence of the melsanthi at 10.30 am. The ritual was concluded with Kalabhabhishekam on the idol of Lord Ayyappa after the procession carrying the Brahmakalasam led by the thantri and melsanthi circumambulated the Sreekovil of the temple.