Sabarimala fest begins with kodiyettu

SABARIMALA: The 10-day annual festival at Sabarimala temple began on Wednesday with kodiyettu. The ceremony was performed under the leadership of thantri Kandararu Rajivaru in the presence of thantri Kandararu Brahmadathan and the melsanthi at 9.56 am.The ceremony began with the thantri performing pooja on the temple flag at the mandapam and later at the sreekovil.

The thantri hoisted the flag at golden flag mast after the procession carrying the flag circumambulated the sreekovil. Ashtabhishekam and pushpabhishekam were the important rituals conducted on the first day of the festival.