4 months ago
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The Ayyappa temple astatine Sabarimala reopened connected Tuesday evening for the Makaravilakku festival season.
Melsanti E.D. Prasad reopened the sanctum sanctorum astatine 5 p.m., accompanied by Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru. This was followed by the reopening of the Malikappuram Devi temple. Even earlier the ceremonial opening, a dependable watercourse of pilgrims, particularly from neighbouring States, began their ascent to the temple via Pampa and Pullumedu .’
The temple, which closed aft the Mandalam pilgrimage play connected December 27, volition stay unfastened until January 19. The Makaravilakku festival is scheduled for January 14, and the shrine volition adjacent for the play connected the greeting of January 20.
Ahead of the reopening, the Fire and Rescue Services carried retired a last circular of cleaning astatine the Sannidhanam, Pathinettam Padi, Malikappuram, and the Aravana counters. This followed a large-scale cleanup thrust from the Sannidhanam to Appachimedu undertaken earlier by aggregate departments.
Security arrangements person been importantly stepped up, with a 1,593 subordinate constabulary unit deployed nether the enactment of Crime Branch Superintendent of Police M. Krishnan. Key work points see the sanctum sanctorum, Pathinettam Padi, Valiya Nadapanthal U-turn, Sharamkuthi, Marakoottam, Malikappuram and Pandithavalam.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has besides enactment successful spot extended arrangements to negociate the expected surge successful pilgrim inflow during the festival period.
Meanwhile, hostility flared on the accepted wood way from Erumely connected Monday evening aft devotees were prevented from entering the forest, with officials stating that the way would unfastened lone astatine 7 a.m. connected Tuesday. After being kept nether restrictions for respective hours, pilgrims yet crossed over, ignoring authoritative instructions.
At Koikkakkavu and Azhuthakkadavu, devotees, frustrated by prolonged waiting, broke done restrictions and continued their journey. Similar scenes unfolded astatine Perurthodu, different agelong of the accepted route, wherever protests erupted pursuing disruption to the pilgrimage.
Devotees had earlier blocked the the Perurthodu-Irumbunnikkara roadworthy and staged a roadworthy blockade, sitting connected the roadworthy and chanting bhajans. A heated speech broke retired with the constabulary earlier the concern was brought nether control.
