On the first day, the yajamana and his priests enter the yaga enclosure carrying three sacred fires in pots. The main ritual vessel is made of clay. A symbolic animal sacrifice is performed for Vayu (God of Air). Five head priests produce fire through friction. Then a turban is tied around the head of yajamana; he is protected by sacred breast plate made of gold and is handed over a staff. From then, he is forbidden from speaking, except to recite sacred verses.A rakshapurusha for protecting the yagna and ritwiks are appointed, and a number of cleansing rites are performed. The yagam begins after stating the purpose of the ritual (sankalpam).Everyday the rituals vary. The major offering to the sacred fire is somarasa, the juice of somalatha herb.On the 12th and the final day, the yajamana and his wife take a holy bath, followed by a symbolic sacrifice of goat. The yajamana will install the three fires at his home and he shall perform the fire ritual every morning and evening for the rest of his life.Total 17 ritwiks of Rig, Sama and Yajur Veda branches, 35 assistants and 10 supervisors and mentors are conducting the yagam. They include 83-year-old Ravi Akkithirrippad and 11-year-old Samavedi Sivakiran. The boy was trained for the ritual for eight months by his father Krishnan Namboodiri.
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