Summary:
Earlier, inspector-general of police Vijay Sakhare, in charge of security at Sannidhanam, reviewed the security arrangements. The outgoing priest led them through the 18 holy steps to the shrine. Marking the closing of the 41-day mandalam festival, the temple would close after the Athazhapuja, later that evening.The temple would again be opened for the Makaravilakku festival on December 30 afternoon. Barricades were set up in front of the holy steps, where protesters had camped during the Chithira Aatta visesham earlier this month. The outgoing priest, after taking the new priest into the sanctum sanctorum, passed on the ‘moolamantra’ to him in front of the deity.The mandalapuja will be performed at the Ayyappa temple on December 27..