Cochin, January 22
After two-month-long Mandalam-Makaravilakkau pilgrimage season the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabrimala in Pathanamthitta district in the valley of Sahyadri mountain was closed yesterday. It was evident that this year Sabrimala was in news all round the season for man y reasons, but like every year the two-moth-long scared and devotional journey for many devotees came to an end with the closure of the Sabrimala nada. As per tradition the ‘Guruthi’ ritual to please the Bhootha Gana of lord Shiva was religiously performed at the Malikappuram Devi temple.
Before the culmination of the pilgrimage season, the Royal representatives of Pandalam Palace Thiruvathiranal Raghava Varma Raja to seek the darshan of Lord Ayyappa. Meanwhile the darshan for normal pilgrims were stopped before. Soon after the Royal representatives had their darshan at around 7 am, the Melshanthy closed the sanctum sanctorum.
Later the Royal representative climbed down the 18-scared steps and began their return journey to Pandalam in a palanquin along with the Thiruvabharanam procession. This ended the two-month-long Mandalam-Makaravilakkau season, now the Sabrimala Ayyappa Temple will again be reopened for Poojas in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, February 12.
