Chennai: Reverberating with divine chants of ‘Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa’, hundreds of devotees clad in black, dark blue and orange attires took part in the ‘Ayyappa Deeksha Maladharana’ ceremony at Sri Ayyappa Thiru Koil, North Chennai.
Organised between 5 am and 11 am and 5 pm and 8 pm in the auspicious month of Karthigai, the day one ritual on Monday saw devotees adorning Thulasi Malas and Rudraksha Malas as part of their 41-day vritham initiation by the temple priest.
Due to the proactive precautionary measures taken for Covid-19 pandemic, the Maladharana day saw a less number of devotee turn-out as compared to last year.
The early morning ‘Ushakala’ poojai began at 5:30 am followed by ‘Ucchakala’ poojai and the Neiabhisheka poojai in the noon. In the evening ‘Malar’ poojai with flowers and ‘Athaazha’ poojai were performed, complete with ‘Harivarasanam’ in the night.