Thanka anki' hailed at temples

Kottayam: The ‘Thanka anki’ (attire made of gold) procession that started from the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple on Thursday will reach Sabarimala on Sunday after receptions at various temples on the way. The golden attire will be adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappa for Deeparadhana  on the evening of December 25  and  Mandala Pooja on  26th afternoon.   The ‘Thanka anki’  made out of 423 sovereigns of gold was gifted to Lord Ayyappa by Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma of the Travancore royal family.

TDB  president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, member Ajay Tharayil,  Devaswom administrative officer G. Venugopal  and special officer N. Rajeev Kumar were present when the procession started from the  Parthasarathy temple at 7 a.m. on Thursday. On Saturday, it will be  given receptions at the temples of Vettoor Sree Ayiravillan, Malayalappuzha Devi, Mekozhoor Sree Rishikesa, Vadasserikkara Prayar Sree Mahavishnu and Madamon Sree Rishikesa before the day’s stay at Ranni Perunad Sree Dharma Sastha temple.

On the concluding day on Sunday, the  anki will be accorded receptions at Koonankara Sabari Saranashramam and Nilackal Sree Siva temple before it reaches  Pampa Lord Ganapathi temple at 2 p.m. and Saramkuthi at 5 p.m. The procession will be given a traditional welcome by the TDB officials.   The thanthri and the melshanthi will receive the  anki  in front of the Sreekovil and  Deeparadhana will be conducted after adorning the attire on the idol of Lord Ayyappa at 6.30 p.m.