<p>A day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala will open on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Taking over of the new chief priests (‘Melsanthi’), Jayaraman Namboothiri of Ayyappa temple and Hariharan Namboothiri of Malikappuram temple on Sabarimala premises, will be the major rituals of the day.</p>.<p>The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 5 pm on November 16 in the presence of chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru</p>.<p>Pilgrims will be allowed only through the virtual queue system. Up to 1.2 lakh pilgrims can visit the temple daily.</p>.<p>After two years of Covid-19 restrictions, a heavy rush is expected in Sabarimala and around 13,000 police personnel have been deployed to manage the crowd.</p>.<p>The temple will close on Decmeber 27 after mandala pooja and reopen on December 30 for Makaravilakku, which is on January 14.</p>.<p><em>(With PTI inputs.)</em></p>
<p>A day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala will open on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Taking over of the new chief priests (‘Melsanthi’), Jayaraman Namboothiri of Ayyappa temple and Hariharan Namboothiri of Malikappuram temple on Sabarimala premises, will be the major rituals of the day.</p>.<p>The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 5 pm on November 16 in the presence of chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru</p>.<p>Pilgrims will be allowed only through the virtual queue system. Up to 1.2 lakh pilgrims can visit the temple daily.</p>.<p>After two years of Covid-19 restrictions, a heavy rush is expected in Sabarimala and around 13,000 police personnel have been deployed to manage the crowd.</p>.<p>The temple will close on Decmeber 27 after mandala pooja and reopen on December 30 for Makaravilakku, which is on January 14.</p>.<p><em>(With PTI inputs.)</em></p>