Sabarimala: The two-month-long annual pilgrimage to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala begun on Thursday. Outgoing head priest N Parameswaran Namboothiri opened the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of chief priest (tantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru.

A large number of pilgrims reached the popular temple to climb the 18 holy steps and have 'darshan' of the deity.

K Jayaraman Namboothiri, a resident of Malappattom Kizhuthril Illom in Kannur, was installed as the new 'melshanti’ .(Tantri or the chief priest has the final say in ritualistic matters; mel shanthi presides over the day-to-day pujas.)

The ceremonies installing Hariharan Namboothiri, a native of Inddamturitti Mana, Vaikom, as the head priest of Malikappuram Devi Temple was also held.

The new head priests cannot leave the precincts of the temples for the next one year and will perform regular poojas from 4 am on Friday.

Jayaraman Namboothiri will offer prayers at Chengannur Mahadeva Temple and the Pandalam Palace on Thursday morning before reaching Pampa by afternoon.

The first leg of the pilgrimage, the 41-day ‘Mandala’ phase, will culminate with the ‘mandala’ pooja on December 27. The temple will be reopened again on December 30 for ‘Makaravilakku’ with the ‘jyothi darshan’ as its high point on January 14.