Home >> LatestNews

23-December-2011: The procession carrying the sacred golden attire(Thanka Anki) set off for Sabarimala

The ceremonial procession carrying the sacred golden attire, Thanka Anki, set off for Sabarimala from the Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula on friday morning for the Mandalapuja to be held at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on Saturday.

The golden attire was taken out of the devaswom strong room at Aranmula at 4 am on friday. An Ayyappa idol was adorned with the Thanka Anki and kept at the Aanakkottil of the Parthasarathy Temple from 5 am to 6.45 am for the devotees to have darshan.

Hundreds of devotees, including women and children, thronged the small temple town of Aranmula to worship the sacred attire and to witness the ceremonial procession.

The temple Melsanthi performed Aarati to the `Anki’ before it was taken to a decorated motorised chariot by the devaswom officials around 6.50 am, amidst chants of `Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’. A 20-member Armed Police team and a team of Travancoe Devaswom Board employees escorted the procession from Aranmula to Sabarimala.

The Thanka Anki, weighing 420 sovereigns, was presented to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple by the late Chithira Tirunaal Balarama Varma of the erstwhile Travancore royal dynasty as his offering to the deity, in 1973. Since then, the TDB has made it a custom to take it to Sabarimala in a ceremonial procession for adorning the Ayyappa idol with it for the auspicious Mandala-puja.

The journey starts from the Aranmulla temple will reach at Nedumbrayar Thevalasseri Devi Temple, and will have the break fast here. Then, it will reach Elathoor Narayanamangalam Temple by mid day and will end at Omallur Sree Raktha Kanda Swami temple. Next day the yatra will start its journey and will reach Pathanamthitta by 12.30 PM. Then, it will forego the journey to Sabarimala through Pulimukku Vettoor Sree Mahavishnu temple, Konni town and will end at Muringamangalam Temple, Konni. The journey will continue the next day on 25th morning through Attambakkal, Myladumpara, Malayalppuzha, Ranni Ramapuram temple and will that day journey at Peunadu temple. The last and final day journey will undego on 26th through Llaha Sathram, Plappally, Nilakkal, Chalakkayam and will reach at Pampa. After having a short interval here the journey will go on to Sannidhanam and at Saramkuthy Thanka Anki will be welcomed traditionally towards Sannidhanam.

The Ayyappa idol will once again be decorated with the Thanka Anki prior to the Mandala-puja on Tuesday 27th December. The Ayyappa shrine will be closed after the Athazha puja on 27th December.

To view Thanka anki photos click here....