
Massive Pilgrim Turnout At Kerala's Sabarimala Temple On New Year's Day
NDTV
The Sabarimala shrine opened at 3 am with the idol of Lord Ayyappa receiving an anointment of ghee from 18,018 coconuts.
The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, which opened for the Makaravilakku festival two days ago, experienced a significant influx of pilgrims on New Year's Day, officials said here on Monday.
The shrine opened at 3 am with the idol of Lord Ayyappa receiving an anointment of ghee from 18,018 coconuts after the nirmalyam and abhishekam rituals.
Led by Chief Priest P N Mahesh Namboothiri, the ghee anointing (Neyyabhishekam) was performed under the supervision of the tantri (head priest) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu. The ghee anointing (Neyyabhishekam) was a contribution from four devotees from Bengaluru - Vishnusaran Bhat, Unnikrishnan Potti, Ramesh Rao, and Dorai.