Pathanamthitta: Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala opened Sunday evening ahead of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, which is expected to attract devotees from across the world.

The over two-month-long pilgrimage season begins on Monday, the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrichikam.

However, the sannidhanam (temple complex), trekking paths, and base camps saw a heavy rush on Sunday itself, as hundreds of pilgrims flocked to the hill shrine to offer prayers immediately after the temple opened.

The temple premises reverberated with chants of Ayyappa as current melshanthi (chief priest) Arunkumar Namboothiri opened the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of tantri (head priest) Mahesh Mohanaru, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials, and devotees.

The installatio

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