sabarimala sources stated that amid tight security, the Lord Ayyappa temple here would open for the two month long pilgrim season this evening, with the CPI (M) led LDF government making all preparations to make it a hassle free pilgrimage. Reportedly Kandararu mahesh Mohanararu would open the sanctum sanctorum and perform the pujas. AK Sudheer Namboodiri would take charge as the sabarimala Melsanthi and MS Parameshwaran Namboodiri as Malikapuram Melsanthi.
Furthermore the pilgrims would be allowed to climb the 18 holy steps after the padi puja and have darshan. Further the portals of the hill shrine, located in a reserve forest in Western Ghats in pathanamthitta district of the state, would be opened for the two-month-long mandalam Makaravilakku season this evening around 5 pm. Presently devotees have started arriving at Nilackal and Pamba from various parts of kerala and neighboring states, but would be allowed to leave for the shrine only by 2 pm.
Earlier the five judge bench headed by Chief Justice ranjan gogoi said a larger bench will re-examine various religious issues, including the entry of women into the sabarimala temple and mosques and the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community. Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which is managing the Ayyappa shrine, has also sought legal opinion on the apex court directive. Perhaps the board has made elaborate arrangements to provide maximum amenities to the devotees and the unprecedented floods during august last year had also played havoc with the pilgrimage season with most of the facilities for the devotees being destroyed.
