PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA, INDIA, September 5, 2003: The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala will open for Onam festival on September 6. Melsanthi Perikamana Sankaranarayanan Nampoothiri will open the sreekovil (main sanctum) at 5.30 a.m. in the presence of Thantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajivaru. Udayasthamana pooja, Pushpabhishekam and Padipooja will be conducted on all four days from September 7. The melsanthi will offer Onam sadya to devotees on September 7 after the Ucha pooja. A Sahasra kalasam will be performed under the leadership of the thantri on September 9. The sanctum sanctorum will be closed on September 10 after Harivarasanam in the evening.
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