Thanka Anki

The Thanka Anki, weighing 420 soverigns, was presented to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple by the late Chithira Tirunaal Balarama Varma of the erstwhile Travancore royal dynasty as his offering to the presiding deity way back in 1973. Since then, the TDB has made it a custom to take it to Sabarimala in a ceremonial procession for adorning the Ayyappa idol with it for the auspicious Mandala-puja.

The procession reached the Raktakanta Swami Temple at Omalloor near Pathanamthitta, later, in the evening.

It will reach Muringamangalam Temple near Konni on Saturday evening and will halt at the Kakkattu Koickal Sastha Temple at Perinad on December 25 evening.

The procession will be accorded rousing receptions at different points enroute before it reach Pampa on December 26 forenoon.

The Anki will be kept in a wooden box for carrying it from Pampa to the Sannidhanam and the Ayyppa Seva Sanghom volunteers will take the box on their head to Sabarimala in another procession, later in the afternoon.

TDB authorities will receive the Thanka Anki when the procession reaches Saramkuthi on the trekking path. The presiding deity will be decorated with the golden attire prior to the deeparadhana to be held at the Ayyappa Temple, later, in the evening.

Mandalapuja

The presiding deity will be adorned with the Anki prior to the Mandala-puja to be held as part of the Utcha puja between 1 pm and 1.30 pm on December 27