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IN PHOTOS: Sabarimala witnesses heavy rush on first day of annual pilgrimage season

Updated On: 17 November, 2025 02:05 PM IST | Divya Nair

Hundreds of devotees thronged the famed Lord Ayyappa Temple here early on Monday, the auspicious first day of the Malayalam month of 'Vrichikam', which marks the beginning of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season (PICS and TEXT: PTI)

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Pic/PTI
Dressed in the customary black attire and carrying the 'irumudikkettu' (sacred bundle) on their heads, pilgrims from inside and outside the state queued for hours to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa

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Dressed in the customary black attire and carrying the 'irumudikkettu' (sacred bundle) on their heads, pilgrims from inside and outside the state queued for hours to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa

As the newly appointed 'melsanthi' (chief priest) E D Prasad Namboothiri, opened the temple portals, devotees chanted the hymns of Lord Ayyappa in unison

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As the newly appointed 'melsanthi' (chief priest) E D Prasad Namboothiri, opened the temple portals, devotees chanted the hymns of Lord Ayyappa in unison

The temple was opened in the presence of 'tantri' (head priest) Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said in a statement

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The temple was opened in the presence of 'tantri' (head priest) Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said in a statement

From early morning itself, there was a heavy flow of pilgrims arriving for darshan, TDB officials said. When the temple opened at 3 am, long queues of devotees seeking darshan stretched across the 'nadapandal' (walkway) and 'sopanam' (sacred steps)

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From early morning itself, there was a heavy flow of pilgrims arriving for darshan, TDB officials said. When the temple opened at 3 am, long queues of devotees seeking darshan stretched across the 'nadapandal' (walkway) and 'sopanam' (sacred steps)

After the opening of the sanctum sanctorum, rituals such as Nirmalya Abhishekam, Ganapathi Homam, and Neyyabhishekam were performed. The temple will close at 1 pm, reopen again at 3 pm, and finally close for the day at 11 pm with the chanting of "harivarasanam", the lullaby of Lord Ayyappa, the TDB authorities added

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After the opening of the sanctum sanctorum, rituals such as Nirmalya Abhishekam, Ganapathi Homam, and Neyyabhishekam were performed. The temple will close at 1 pm, reopen again at 3 pm, and finally close for the day at 11 pm with the chanting of "harivarasanam", the lullaby of Lord Ayyappa, the TDB authorities added

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