Thousands witness Mandala pooja at Sabarimala

Sabarimala (KER): Thousands of pilgrims on Wednesday offered prayers at the famed Lord Ayyappa temple here as the auspicious Mandala pooja was performed at the hill shrine in the afternoon, marking the culmination of the 41-day-long first leg of the annual pilgrimage season.

The mandala pooja was performed after adorning the idol of the Lord Ayyappa, the



principal deity with "thanka anki", the sacred golden attire brought to the Sannidhanam (temple complex) in a ceremonial procession on Tuesday evening.

The rituals were performed under the aegis of temple tantri (head priest), Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru who adorned the idol with the sacred attire.