The annual two-month-long Mandalam-Makaravilakku season at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple is all set to begin on the first day of Malayalam month of Vrichikam on Thursday. For the auspicious occasion, the hill shrine will be opened on Wednesday evening by Melsanthi Sasi Nampoothiri, who completes his tenure on that day.

INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF NEW MELSANTHI The installation ceremony of M Balamurali as the new Sabarimala melsanthi will be held under the leadership of Thantri Kandararu Maheswararu in front of the Sreekovil at 7 pm on Wednesday evening. As part of the ceremony, the Thantri will perform kalasabhishekam on the new melsanthi. The one-year term of the new Melsanthi will begin with the opening of the Sreekovil of the temple at 4 am on Thursday in the presence of Thantri Maheswararu. After going inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, the Thantri will pass on the “Moolamantram” of Lord Ayyappa on the ear of the Melsanthi.

NEW PILGRIM FACILITIES ‘’Saranasethu”, the Army Bailey bridge built for the purpose of using as the one-way system for the pilgrims after darsan, two queue complexes and the resting place at Pandithavalam for accommodating 20,000 pilgrims will be the new facilities offered for the crores of pilgrims during the new pilgrimage season. The Army Bailey bridge, connecting Malikappuram with Chandranandan Road, set up by the Sabarimala high-powered committee on infrastructure development headed by Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar, will be much beneficial for the pilgrims during the peak pilgrimage season days of Mandalam and Makaravilaku season.