Sabarimala shrine opens from April 11 – 18 for special Vishu Puja

Sabarimala: The sanctum sanctorum of the Sree Dharma Sastha Temple shrine will open for the special Vishu Puja and other rituals on April 10. The devotees could offer ‘neyyabhishekam’ every morning from April 11 – 18. The rituals begin at 5.30 am every day during this pilgrimage season. Melsanthi or the chief priest PN Mahesh will open the sanctum sanctorum at 5 pm on April 10. Meanwhile, the devotes could see the Vishu kani and offer prayers on April 14 from 4 am to 7 am.

The devotees could celebrate Vishu, the cosmic new year, on a spiritual note by offering prayers to Lord Ayyappa. Meanwhile, the tantric and the melsanthi would give Vishu kaineettam to the devotees. After the ‘athazhapooja’ on April 13, the sanctum sanctorum will be closed only after arranging the Vishu kani inside the sreekovil. On April 14, at 4 am, the melsanthi will open the ‘nada’ and light the lamp before showing the Vishu kani to Lord Ayyappa. The devotees would then be allowed to see the Vishu kani and offer prayers. The sanctum sanctorum closes at 10 pm on April 18 after completing all the pujas and rituals.