Thidambu procession from January 15

SABARAIMALA:  The five-day procession carrying the  ‘Thidambu’ of Malikappuram Devi, one of the important rituals of the Makaravilaku festival,   will be taken out from Malikappuram temple from January 15 to 19. The procession carrying the ‘Thidambu’ of  Malikappuram Devi on a caparisoned elephant will be taken out from the temple to the Holy Steps in front of the Lord Ayyappa temple on the first four days and on the fifth day the procession will go up to Saramkuthi. The procession on all days will be accompanied by the playing of chendamelam and panchavadyam,  except on January 19. Kalabhabhishekam:  The annual ritual of Kalabhabhishekam  before the closure of the temple, will be held on January 19.“Guruthi “ on Jan 20:  The annual “Guruthi”,  the ritual for the Hill Gods of Lord Ayyappa, will be held at Malikappuram at 11 pm on January 20.Temple to be closed on Jan 21:  Lord Ayyappa temple will be closed after the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season at 7 am on January 21 after the darsan by  the representative of Pandalam  Raja.