Hundreds of Devout Ayyappa worshippers partake in the ‘Maladharana’ ceremony amidst strict COVID 19 precautionary measures
Ayyappa Deeksha Maladharana begins with utmost fervour at Sri Ayyappan Thiru Koil, North Madras || Appeals to Kerala Govt for more allowing more Devotees
Hundreds of Devout Ayyappa worshippers partake in the ‘Maladharana’ ceremony amidst strict COVID 19 precautionary measures Chennai, 16 Nov. 2020: Reverberating with divine chants of ‘Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa’, hundreds of devotees clad in Black, Dark Blue and Orange attires took part in the ‘Ayyappa Deeksha Maladharana’ ceremony at Sri Ayyappa Thiru Koil, North Madras. Organised between 5 AM and 11 AM and 5 PM and 8 PM in the auspicious month of Karthigai, the day one ritual, on November 16, 2020 saw devotees adorning Thulasi Malas and Rudraksha Malas as part of their 41 day vritham initiation by the temple priest.
Despite the proactive precautionary measures taken and the following of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing at the Temple for COVID 19 pandemic, the Maladharana day saw a less number of devotee turn-out as compared to last year.The early morning ‘Ushakala’ poojai began at 5:30 AM followed by ‘Ucchakala’ poojai and the Neiabhisheka poojai in the noon. In the evening ‘Malar’ poojai with flowers and ‘Athaazha’ poojai were performed, complete with ‘Harivarasanam’ in the night.
The temple on a daily basis is organising ‘Ganapathy Homam’ revering Lord Ganesha, and milk abhishekam to Lord Guruvaayurappan, and performing ‘Ayalya poojai’ for Lord Nagaraja once every month. In addition, the temple is organising ‘Annadhaanam’ twice a week on Thursdays and Saturd ays. About the Temple: Built in 2014, Sri Ayyappa Thiru Koil is spread across four acres of land in Pudhuvannai on T.H. Road and has sanctum san cto rum for Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramaniyan, Goddess Durga, Godess Bhagavathi, Lord Nagaraja, and Lord Guruv aayur Krishnan, in addition to the main deity Lord Sri Ayyappa.
