Vishukkani darshan on April 15 morning
The Travancore Devaswom Board has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the annual Vishu festival at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala to be held from April 10 to 19.
The Melsanthi, E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri, will open the Ayyappa temple at 5.30 p.m. on Friday.
The rituals will begin on Saturday morning with Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu performing the auspicious Ashtadravya ganapati homom.
Sahasrakalas
abhishekom, Kalabhabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, Padupuja, Ashtabhishekom, and Udayasthamanapuja will be performed at the Ayyappa temple on all days from April 11 to 19.
The Vishukkani darshan at the Ayyappa shrine will be from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. on April 15. The Vishukkani will be prepared inside the sanctorum with flowers, fresh vegetables, Ashtramangalyam, after the Athazhapuja on April 14. The Ayyappa temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on April 19 evening.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate special services to Pampa from its depots at Chengannur, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Erumely, Guruvayur, Kottarakkara, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam in view of the Vishu festival, according to the special officer, M.V. Manoj.
He said the KSRTC would open its seasonal depot at Pampa on April 10. The Health department will open temporary dispensaries at Pampa and Sannidhanam, besides the cardiology units at Neelimala and Appachimedu on the trekking path.
The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom would deploy its stretcher service volunteers at Sabarimala and on the trekking path from Friday, according to Thanchavur Damodaran, stretcher unit captain.