Sabarimala temple to open on August 16

PATHANAMTHITTA: Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple will be opened on August 16 evening for the five-day Malayalam new year celebrations. Melsanthi Sasi Nampoothiri will open the Sreekovil at 5.30 pm.Laksharchana: On the first day of Chingam (August 17), the first month of the Malayalam new year, Laksharchana will be held at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, Sabarimala executive officer M Satheesh Kumar said.The ritual will begin soon after Usha pooja.Laksharchana at Pampa: As a practice, Laksharchana will be held at Pampa Lord Ganapathi temple on August 18, Satheesh Kumar said.Sahasrakalasam, Kalabhabhishekam: Special rituals such as Sahasrakalasam and Kalabhabhishekam would be held at Lord Ayyappa temple on all the five days of monthly pooja, he said.Udayasthamana pooja, Padi pooja and Pushpabhishekam would be the other poojas to be held.The temple will be closed on August 21 evening.