Pathanamthitta, Friday, October 14, 2011: The new head priests (Melsanthis) of the Ayyappa temple and the Malikappuram Devi temple at Sabarimala will be selected on October 18, the first day of the Malayalam month of Thulam, through the customary draw of lots.

The Travancore Devaswom Board shortlisted 10 priests in the case of the Sabarimala temple and 13 in the case of the Malikappuram temple on the basis of a personal interview held at its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram a few days ago.

The draw of lots will be held at each of the two temples in the presence of devotees. The Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court will pick a child devotee present at the temple to draw the lots.

The new priests will assume charge for a one-year term on November 17, the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikom, when the annual pilgrimage begins.

The present head priest, Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri, will open the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayyappa temple at 5.30 p.m. on October 17 for the five-day monthly rituals, which will begin with an Ashtadravya Ganapati Homam performed by chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Maheswararu the next morning.

(News agency)