Pathanamthitta, Friday, December 25, 2009: The procession carrying the Thanka Anki, the gold ornaments to be adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappa on the Mandalapooja day on December 26, would reach Sannidhanam today. A 30-member Travancore Devaswom Board team headed by special officer is leading the procession.

The procession will reach Pampa Ganapathi Temple by noon after visiting Nilackal Temple. The Thanka Anki procession, after leaving Pampa would be given a traditional reception on its arrival at Saramkuthi, by the Devaswom officials.

On reaching Sannidhanam, the Anki will be received by Thantri in front of the sopanam and will be taken inside to be adorned on the idol before the deeparadhana .

After adorning the Thanka Anki on the idol of Lord Ayyappa, deeparadhana will be conducted at 6.30 p.m. on December 25. The Mandalapooja will be held during uchchapooja at 12.30 p.m. on December 26. The shrine will be closed at 11 p.m. after athazhapooja and Harivarasanam.

The Lord Ayyappa temple will be reopened for the 20-day Makaravilakku festival on December 30 evening. The procession had set off its journey from Aranmula Sree Parthasarathi Temple on December 22.

The ‘Thanka Anki’ weighing 420 sovereigns was offered to the Ayyappa temple by the late Sree Chitira Tirunal of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore in 1973. It has been the custom since then to decorate the Ayyappa idol at the Sannidhanam with the ‘Thanka Anki’ prior to the Mandalapuja.