The sacred Sabarimala Temple is set to open its doors this evening for the auspicious Thulam month poojas, marking the beginning of a spiritually significant period for devotees. The temple doors will open at 5 p.m., with Melshanti (chief priest) Arun Kumar Namboothiri performing the rituals in the presence of Tantri Kandar Mahesh Mohanaru. Devotees will be permitted for darshan from 5 a.m. on Saturday.
Adding to the sanctity of the occasion, the temple’s iconic Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptures will regain their golden splendor today. The gold-plated panels, which were recently taken to Chennai for meticulous restoration, will be reinstalled in a special ceremony around 4 p.m. The restoration work, approved by the Kerala High Court, has been a topic of great public interest in recent days.
Meanwhile, the traditional draw to select the next Melshanthi for both the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples will be conducted tomorrow at Sannidhanam. Fourteen priests are in the running for Sabarimala’s top post, while thirteen are vying for the Malikappuram role.
In a moment of national significance, President Droupadi Murmu will visit the revered hill shrine on October 22. Preparations are in full swing at Sannidhanam for her historic visit. On that day, pilgrim entry will be restricted for security reasons. The President is expected to arrive at Nilakkal by helicopter at 11 a.m. and proceed by car to Pamba. After performing the Irumudikettu ritual at the Pamba Ganapathi Temple, she will ascend to Sannidhanam in a Gurkha vehicle provided by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The Thulam month rituals, restoration works, and the upcoming presidential visit together mark a momentous period for Sabarimala, blending devotion, heritage, and national reverence.
