Niraputhiri celebrations held at Sabarimala

The annual Niraputhiri celebrations was conducted at Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala on Sunday. Tantri Kantararu Rajeevaru sprinkled sanctified water on the paddy spikes freshly coming from the paddy farms. Later, he assisted by Melsanthi E Easwaran Nampoothiri took them in a procession to the east Mandapam and performed special Poojas. Thereafter, the bundles of paddy spikes were carried into the sanctum sanctorum and Tantri performed Poojas to them.

The Sreekovil and Sopanam were bedecked with sacred spikes and distributed as Prasadam to the devotees. On Saturday Nampoothiri opened the sanctum sanctorum. Hundreds of devotees offered prayers at the temple by bringing in newly harvested paddy spikes and deposit them at the foot of 18-sacred steps.