Sabarimala: Hundreds witness annual Erumeli Pettathullal

By Express News Service
SABARIMALA: The customary Erumeli Pettathullal ceremony, one of many vital rituals of the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage, was held on the Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha temple on Monday within the presence of a number of hundred devotees.Pettathullal, the sacred dance celebrating the victory of Lord Ayyappa over demon Mahishi as per legend, was carried out by the normal Ambalapuzha and Alangattu groups. Number of members have been capped at 50 as a part of Covid protocol. 

The Ambalapuzha group led by 90-year-old periyor Chandrasekharan Nair, started the ritual from Erumeli Pettah Sree Sastha temple after colouring their faces. The group took out the procession after witnessing the ‘Krishnaparunthu’.

Accompanied by caparisoned elephants and percussion artists, the Pettatthullal group wound its method to the Erumeli Lord Dharma Sastha temple after circumambulating the  Erumley Nayanar mosque. Travancore Devaswom Board president N Vasu and members Okay S Ravi and T G Thankappan accorded a standard reception to the group when it reached the Erumeli Lord Dharma Sastha temple. The Ambalapuzha group wrapped up the efficiency by providing worship in entrance of the Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha temple after circumambulating the nalambalam.

Led by Vijayakumar, the Alangattu group started the ritual at 2pm after witnessing the ‘star’ within the sky. With sandalwood paste smeared throughout the brow, the group sparked appreciable curiosity amongst devotees who lined each side of the 1-km stretch from Pettah temple to Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha temple.

Dancing to the beats of temple percussion devices, the group concluded the ritual by providing prayers in entrance of the Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha temple  after circumambulating the nalambalam at 4pm. Both the Ambalapuzha and Alangattu groups will conclude the customary ritual after providing worship at Lord Ayya-ppa temple right here on January 13 after a two-day trek by means of the normal Azhutha-Karimala forest path.

Thiruvabharanam procession to go away Pandalam at presentSabarimala: The three-day procession carrying Thiruvabharanam, the golden apparel to be adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappa throughout Makaravilakku ceremony on January 14, will depart Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sree Dharma Sastha temple on Tuesday. Restrictions have been imposed beneath Covid protocol, together with necessary RT-PCR certificates for individuals who accompany the procession. As a part of the restrictions, the Thiruvabharanam bins is not going to be opened for the devotees on the temples on the procession route as much as Lord Ayyappa temple.

The procession carrying the three Thiruvabharanam bins on head will depart the Pandalam temple at 12.30pm after witnessing ‘Krishnaparunthu’ within the sky.Traditional reception will likely be accorded on the temples the place the Thiruvabharanam procession halts. After the three-day journey the procession will attain Lord Ayyappa temple at 6.15pm, whereThantri Kandararu Rajivaru will obtain the Thiruvabharanam.