Sabarimala, Monday 18 October 2010: A draw of lots to select new head priests (melsanthi) for the Ayyappa temple and the Malikappuram Devi temple will be held at the respective temple sopanam today morning.

The Travancore Devaswom Board had shortlisted 11 for the post of head priest at the Ayyappa temple and six for the post of Malikappuram Melsanthi.

The draw of lots will be held after the Ushapuja at the temple on Monday morning. TDB authorities will prepare the lots at the temple Sopanam itself and the lots will be drawn by a child devotee selected from among the devotees.

Special Commissioner appointed by the court M.Rajendran Nair will monitor the proceedings. The new head priests will assume charge for the next one-year at an installation ceremony to be held at the respective temple sopanam on November 16.

Earlier report

Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala was opened on Sunday for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulam that begins on Monday.

Melsanthi G.Vishnu Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru and Devaswom Executive Officer V.S. Jayakumar at 5.30 p.m.

The rituals will begin with the Tantri performing Ashtadravya Ganapati Homom on Monday morning.