KL-SABARIMALA-PROCESSION

Thousands thronged the temple

town of Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district Saturday to

witness the 'Thiruvabharanam' (sacred jewellery) procession

from the Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sastha temple to Sabarimala

for the annual 'Makaravilakku' festival.

The Thiruvabharanam was shifted from the strong room of

Srambickal Palace in Pandalam to the adjoining Valiyakoickal

temple, early in the morning for the devotees to have darshan.

Later the sacred jewels were kept in three wooden boxes

to be taken to Sabarimala by a 22-member team headed by

Kulathinal Gangadharan Pillai.

The temple head priest performed special rituals at the

Sastha temple amid chanting of 'Swami Saranam'.

The eldest male member of the Pandalam royal family

handed over the ceremonial sword to the royal representative

escorting the sacred jewellery.

The palace representative was taken in a palanquin to the

nearby Kaippuzha palace ahead of the start of the procession,

which would halt at Ayroor Puthiyakavu Devi temple tonight and

at Laha on the second night.

It would reach Saramkuthi at 5 pm on January 14 and the

Sannidhanam at 6 pm.

Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu, assisted by Melsanthi would

adorn the deity with the jewellery prior to the deeparadhana

on January 14.

The state government has deployed heavy security for the

procession, which carries the sacred jewels of Lord Ayyappa.

Apart from the 22-member team, hundreds of devotees with

'irumudikettu' (holy bag consisting offerings to the deity)

are also part of the procession.

Armed guards headed by Assistant Commandant of the armed

reserved camp and bomb detection and disposal squad are also

part of the entourage.