Ayyappa

With the annual pilgrimage season just weeks away, S Arun Kumar Namboothiri was selected on Thursday as the new Melsanthi (chief priest) of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.

However, the chief minister didn't clearly state whether the spot booking system would be maintained as it was in the previous year, along with the virtual queue booking.

The chants of 'Saranam Ayyappa' and hymns intensified when the portals of the shrine were opened.

the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the apex temple body managing Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, decided on Tuesday to regulate spot bookings for darshan due to the anticipated heavy rush on the occasion.

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, which opened for the Makaravilakku festival two days ago, experienced a significant influx of pilgrims on New Year's Day, officials said here on Monday.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to deploy adequate personnel and staff at Sabarimala temple to reduce the wait time of devotees.

The official also said that water and biscuits were being provided to devotees waiting in the queues for darshan.

The sanctum sanctorum was opened on the eve of the pilgrim season on Thursday under the aegis of temple 'tantri' (head priest) Mahesh Mohanaru.

The Kerala High Court on Thursday rejected a plea challenging the recent selection of the 'melsanthi' or head priest of the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

A Christian priest in Kerala returned his church licence for performing pastoral services following a row over him observing the 41-day abstinence followed by Lord Ayyappa devotees to offer prayers at the famous Sabarimala shrine.

The Kerala High Court on Monday took a serious note of the manner in which a guard appointed by Travancore Devaswom Board regulated movement of devotees who had arrived at Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala for the Makaravilakku ritual on January 14.

With an increase in footfall at the famed Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala during the ongoing pilgrimage season, the Kerala High Court on Sunday issued a slew of directions to the police and temple authorities regarding crowd management and control.

The Left government in Kerala on Thursday withdrew a handbook for police personnel on duty at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala after the BJP protested a reference in the book.

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will be opened on Wednesday, a day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season.

Aerial surveillance, deployment of policemen, Intelligence officials and commandos, and CCTV cameras are part of the arrangements of the Kerala police to ensure a smooth, safe and secure pilgrimage to Sabarimala.

With the annual pilgrimage season just weeks away, S Arun Kumar Namboothiri was selected on Thursday as the new Melsanthi (chief priest) of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.

However, the chief minister didn't clearly state whether the spot booking system would be maintained as it was in the previous year, along with the virtual queue booking.

The chants of 'Saranam Ayyappa' and hymns intensified when the portals of the shrine were opened.

the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the apex temple body managing Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, decided on Tuesday to regulate spot bookings for darshan due to the anticipated heavy rush on the occasion.

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, which opened for the Makaravilakku festival two days ago, experienced a significant influx of pilgrims on New Year's Day, officials said here on Monday.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to deploy adequate personnel and staff at Sabarimala temple to reduce the wait time of devotees.

The official also said that water and biscuits were being provided to devotees waiting in the queues for darshan.

The sanctum sanctorum was opened on the eve of the pilgrim season on Thursday under the aegis of temple 'tantri' (head priest) Mahesh Mohanaru.

The Kerala High Court on Thursday rejected a plea challenging the recent selection of the 'melsanthi' or head priest of the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

A Christian priest in Kerala returned his church licence for performing pastoral services following a row over him observing the 41-day abstinence followed by Lord Ayyappa devotees to offer prayers at the famous Sabarimala shrine.

The Kerala High Court on Monday took a serious note of the manner in which a guard appointed by Travancore Devaswom Board regulated movement of devotees who had arrived at Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala for the Makaravilakku ritual on January 14.

With an increase in footfall at the famed Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala during the ongoing pilgrimage season, the Kerala High Court on Sunday issued a slew of directions to the police and temple authorities regarding crowd management and control.

The Left government in Kerala on Thursday withdrew a handbook for police personnel on duty at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala after the BJP protested a reference in the book.

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will be opened on Wednesday, a day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season.

Aerial surveillance, deployment of policemen, Intelligence officials and commandos, and CCTV cameras are part of the arrangements of the Kerala police to ensure a smooth, safe and secure pilgrimage to Sabarimala.