Lord Ayyappa temple opens, idol Installation day on June 5

Sabarimala: The Lord Ayyappa temple in Kerala will be opened on Wednesday evening for poojas related to idol installation on June 5.

The Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the hill shrine will be opened by Melsanthi (head priest) S. Arun Kumar Namboodiri in the presence of Thantri Kandararu Rajeevararu (chief priest) at 1700 hrs. Later, the 'Tantri' will light the sacred fire place (Aazhi) at the Lower Thirumuttam. However, no ritual will be performed at the Sreekovil this evening as part of the ongoing practice. The temple will remain open for devotees to offer their prayers until June 5, closing at 10 pm.

On Thursday, routine rituals and poojas, including Ganapathi Homam, Usha Pooja, Uchcha Pooja, Deeparadhana and Athazha Pooja, Udayasthamana Pooja, Kalabhabhishekam, Padi Pooja and Pushpabhishekam, will be performed.

The idol installation anniversary, also known as Pratishta Dinam, is celebrated every year in the Malayalam month 'Edavam' and the temple opens for one day for special poojas. The current idol was installed on May 18, 1951.