Sabarimala temple festival concludes with Arattu at Pampa

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, DEC. 1. In an atmosphere surcharged with religious fervour, the auspicious `Arattu' ceremony was held today morning at the specially prepared `Arattu Kadavu' on the river Pampa, marking the concluding part of the 10-day-long annual temple festival at Sabarimala.

The `Arattu' procession escorting the replica of the Ayyappa idol (Thidambu) on a caparisoned elephant set off to Pampa after the Tantri Sri Kantaru Rajeevaru performed the `Arattu Bali' at the Sannidhanam around 8-30 a.m. The procession that reached Pampa via Saramkuthi, Marakkoottom, Sabaripeetom and Appachimedu at 11 a.m. was received by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, Dr. N. Babu, and other TDB officials at the Pampa Ganapathi Kovil.

The `Arattu' ceremony, in which the Tantri and other priests carrying the Ayyappa idol take a dip in the river, was held around 11-30 a.m.

The Tantri offered the `Utcha pooja' and `Nivedyam' to the deity at the Arattu Kadavu itself, later. Hundreds of devotees who reached Pampa to witness the sacred annual ritual also took a holy dip in the Arattu Kadavu, later.

The Deity was later escorted to the Pampa Ganapathi Kovil precincts and kept there till 3 p.m. for the devotees to offer prayers. Devotees also offered `Nirapara' to the deity on the occasion.

Later, in the evening, the presiding deity was escorted back to the Sannidhanam in a procession after accepting the `Nirapara' and `Kannikka' offerings from the devotees and the business community en route.

At around 10-30 p.m., the Tantri lowered the temple flag, marking the culmination of the 10-day-long annual temple festival.

The Arattu procession sets off from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple to Pampa on Friday morning.

The Arattu ceremony held at the Arattu Kadavu of the river Pampa on Friday.

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Section  : Southern States
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