The revered Aarattu ceremony of Lord Ayyappa is set to take place at Pampa today, signifying the ceremonial end of the Painkuni Uthram festival at the Sabarimala temple. This sacred event is being led by Thantri Kantararu Rajeevaru, along with his son Kanthararu Brahmadatthan, and key temple priests including Melshanthi S. Arun Kumar Namboothiri and Malikappuram Melshanthi T. Vasudevan Namboothiri. The day begins with a morning puja followed by Aarattu Bali at 9 am. The idol of Lord Ayyappa will then be taken in a divine procession to the Pampa river for the ritual bathing—an essential part of the temple traditions.
Once the procession reaches the Pampa Ganapathi temple, the Thidambu (sacred representation of the deity) will be carried by the Melshanthi to the Aarattu Kadavu, where the ritual bath or ‘Aarattu’ will be conducted. After this spiritually significant act, the deity will be brought back to the Ganapathi temple, allowing devotees to offer prayers and offerings until 3 pm. A grand procession will then escort the deity back to the Sannidhanam (main temple), adding to the visual and spiritual splendour of the day.
Evening ceremonies will include a series of important rituals—Kodiyirakku (flag lowering), Aarattu Kalasham, Ucha Pooja (midday offering), Deeparadhana (lamp worship), and Athazha Pooja (night offering)—all set to conclude by 10 pm. The day’s rituals follow last night’s events which included the Aathazha Pooja, Sree Bhootabali, and the symbolic Pallivetta ritual conducted at Saramkuthi. The idol was then brought back to the Sannidhanam after resting at a specially arranged space in Thidapally for ‘palli urakkam’ (symbolic divine rest). These sacred ceremonies not only uphold tradition but also deepen the spiritual connection for thousands of devotees who gather for this annual celebration.
