Padi pooja begins at Sabarimala temple

SABARIMALA: The four-day Padi pooja ritual, the first time during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival, began at the Sabarimala temple here on Wednesday.

The ritual, which began after deeparadhana, was performed under the leadership of thantri Kandararu Brahmadathan in the presence of melsanthi Arunkumar Nampoothiri.

The hour-long ritual, which began with the lighting of traditional lamps at each of the 18 Holy Steps, concluded with performing ‘aarati’ by the thantri at each step.