India News | 'Thanka Anki' Procession Sets off to Sabarimala

Patthanamthitta, Dec 22 (PTI): The annual ceremonial procession, carrying the sacred 'Thanka Anki' (golden attire) of Lord Ayyappa, set off to the Sabarimala temple from Aranumla here on Wednesday.

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The attire used to be kept at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple and will be taken to the hill shrine during the Mandala pilgrimage season.

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It was taken out on a motorised chariot amid 'swamiye saranam Ayyappa' chants by devotees.

After accepting reception by devotees at various temples en route, the procession would reach Sabarimala on December 25 evening, where the temple management representatives would accord it a grand welcome.

The idol of the presiding deity would be adorned with the sacred jewels that evening prior to the 'arathi', temple sources said.

The auspicious Mandala pooja would be held in Sabarimala on December 26, marking the culmination of the first leg of the annual pilgrimage season.

Weighing 453 sovereigns, the Thanka Anki was offered to Lord Ayyappa by the Travancore royals during the 1970s.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)