Lory Ayyappa’s Thiruvabharanam procession sets off to Sabarimala

The auspicious jewels are to be adored on Lord Ayyappa on the day of 'Makaravilakku' festival, which falls on January 14

Pathanamthitta (Kerala): The annual ceremonial procession carrying “thiruvabharanam”, the sacred jewellery of the Lord Ayyappa, was set off to Sabarimala from a shrine in Pandalam here on Sunday. The auspicious jewels are to be adored on Lord Ayyappa on the day of ‘Makaravilakku‘ festival, which falls on January 14.
Besides the representatives of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the apex temple body, a large number of devotees also accompanied the “Thiruvabharana ghoshayathra’, the procession, to the hill temple.

Keeping with decades-old tradition, the ‘thiruvabharanam’ was shifted from the strong room of Srambickal Palace in Pandalam to the adjoining Valiyakoickal Sastha temple, earlier in the day for the devotees to have darshan.
The TDB officials received the jewels from the palace authorities and took it to the Sastha temple, where a large number of devotees thronged to have a glimpse of it and offer prayers.

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After the customary rituals and poojas amid “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa” chants, the sacred jewels were kept in wooden boxes and then taken to Sabarimala by a dedicated group of people.
The group would walk by foot for three days carrying the boxes on their heads to reach Sabarimala.

After halting at several temples on the route and accepting the reception of devotees, the procession would reach Sannidhanam (Sabarimala temple complex) on January 14 evening. The temple tantri (head priest) and ‘melsanthi’ (chief priest) would adorn the deity with the jewellery prior to the deeparadhana on the day, TDB sources said.
The State government has deployed heavy security for the procession, which carries the sacred jewels of Lord Ayyappa.