Sabarimala: Thanka anki procession on December 22

SABARIMALA: The procession carrying the thanka anki, the gold ornaments to be adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappa on the Mandalapooja day on December 26, will set off its journey from Aranmula Sree Parthasarathi Temple on December 22. The thanka anki will be kept in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for darsan by the devotees between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. The traditional lamp to be installed in the specially-arranged vehicle will be lighted before the departure by the melsanthi of the temple at 7 a.m.

The procession will be given traditional welcome at Punnamthottam Temple, Nedumprayar, Kozhencherry, Pambadimon, Thekkemala, Karamveli, Elanthur Sree Ganapathi Temple, Mezhuveli Anandavalleswaran Temple, Elavumthitta Bhagavathi Temple, Muttathukonam, Prakanam and will halt at Omallur Sree Rakthakandaswami Temple for the night.

On the second day, the procession will be given reception at Kodunthara Sree Subramanian Temple, Pathanamthitta Sree Dharmasastha Temple, Kumbazha, Elakollur Sree Mahadeva Temple, Chittur junction and will halt at Muringamalam Temple for the night. On December 24, the procession will visit Vettoor Sree Ayiravillan Temple, Malayalappuzha Devi Temple, Mannarakulanji junction, Ranni Ramamangalam Temple, Vadasserikkara, Madamon Sree Hrishikesa Temple and will halt at Perunad Sree Dharmasastha Temple for the night.

On the concluding day of the procession on December 25, the procession will reach Pampa Ganapathi Temple at noon after visiting Nilackal Temple. The anki procession, after leaving Pampa at 3 p.m., will be given a traditional reception on its arrival at Saramkuthi at 5 p.m. by the Devaswom officials, led by Sabarimala executive officer Balachandran Nair and administrative officer Santhosh Kumar.

On reaching Sannidhanam at 6 p.m., the anki will be received by Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in front of the sopanam and will be taken inside to be adorned on the idol before the deeparadhana at 6.30 p.m.

The anki procession will be accompanied by a team led by Devaswom special officer Soman Pillai, Ajithkumar and Arunkumar.