Mandala puja held at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple

Thousands of devotees thronged Lord Ayyappa temple here on Friday for mandala puja which marked culmination of 41-day annual pilgrim season that was peaceful unlike protests over women's entry last year.

Chanting "swamiye saranam" Ayyappa devotees thronged hill-top temple and waited patiently to witness special pujas and rituals including "kalabha abhishekam" and "kalasa abhishekam".

'mandala puja' was held under aegis of head priest Kandaru Mahesh Mohanararu and Melshanti (Chief\ Priest) A Sudheer Namboothiri as pilgrims chanted hymns of Lord in unison.

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idol of Lord Ayyappa was adorned with 'thankaangi," sacred golden attire, which was brought here on Thursday evening in a ceremonial procession from Sree Parthasarthy temple at Aranmula.

Last year, shrine had witnessed frenzied protests by devotees over entry of young women after LDF government decided to implement September 28 verdict of Supreme Court allowing women of all groups to offer prayers.

However, with petitions against September 28 verdict being referred to a larger bench by apex court, state government decided to exercise caution and held that women in 10-50 group who wish to visit hill temple should get a "court order" and it would t encour activism.

shrine would close at 10 pm on Friday, marking conclusion of initial phase of two-month-long annual pilgrim season, which began on vember 15 and would re-open on December 30 for 'Makaravillaku' festival on January 15. 

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