Sabarimala, Nov 16: The sanctum sanctorum of the famous Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala was opened this evening, setting the stage for the two-month long Mandalam-Makaravillku festival. The high priest, Melshanthi Perikamanna Shankarnarayana Namboothri, opened the sanctum sanctorum.

The new priests of the temple, Goshala Vishu Vasudevan and Mallikapuram Melshanthi Perimanna Govindan Potti, were the first to offer worship. Being the first day of the festival, there was a heavy rush of pilgrims at the 'Sannidhanam'.

The Devaswom minister, G Karthikeyan and Travancore Devaswom board president, Dr N Babu reviewed the arrangements and facilities for pilgrims at the hill temple. Bureau Report