Sudhikriyas on Jan 13 and 14

SABARIMALA: Sudhikriyas, as part of the Makaravilakku festival to be held on January 15, will be performed at Lord Ayyappa temple on January 13 and 14.   The purification ceremony, including ‘prasada sudhikriyas’ and ‘bimbasudhikriyas’,  will be conducted under the leadership of thantri Kandraru Maheswararu and Melsanthi  N Balamurali.As part of the ‘prasadasudhikriyas’ , the thantri will conduct ‘rakshogna homam’, ‘rakshakalasam’, ‘vasthuhomam’ and ‘vasthubali’ after deepardhana at 7 p.m. on January 13. On January 14, the thantri will perform  ‘bimbasudhikriyas’ during uchcha pooja.In connection with ‘bimbasudhikriyas’, ‘chathusudhi’, ‘dhara’, ‘panchakam’  and ‘panchagavyam’ will be conducted.Makarasamkrama pooja  The auspicious Makarasamkrama pooja will be held at 12.59 a.m. on January 15.For the conduct of the ritual, the  temple will be closed at 1.30 a.m., instead of the usual closure time of 11.45 p.m. on January 14.Hence, the temple will open on the Makaravilakku day at 4 a.m. on January 15 instead of  3 a.m.