Kochi: The annual Thanka Anki procession carrying sacred gold attire and jewellery to be adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala during Mandala Puja on December 26 started off from the Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula on Friday morning. The Thanka Anki is being taken in a decorated motorised chariot up to Pampa and from there Ayyappa Seva Sanghom volunteers will carry it on their shoulders to Sannidhanam. The ceremonial procession, accompanied by a contingent of armed police, Travancore Devaswom Board officials and devotees set off to Sabarimala at 6.45 am.
The procession will halt at Raktakanta Swami Temple at Omalloor, near Pathanamthitta, on Friday night. It will reach the Muringamangalam temple, near Konni, on Saturday evening and will halt at Kakkattu Koickal Sastha Temple at Perinad on December 24 evening. It will reach Pampa on December 25. The procession will be accorded reception at different points en route to Pampa.
The Ayyappa Seva Sanghom volunteers will take the sacred attire, packed in a wooden box, on their head to the Sannidhanam from Pampa in the afternoon. TDB authorities will receive the Thanka Anki at the Sannidhanam. The presiding deity will be adorned with the golden attire prior to the deeparadhana at the Ayyappa temple in the evening and also prior to the Mandalapuja on December 26.
