With just a day left for the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season, arrangements are in full swing in Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple to welcome lakhs of devotees from across the world. The 41-day-long Mandala pilgrimage season will begin on Monday, the first day of Malayalam month of Vrichikam and the doors of the hill shrine will be opened on Sunday evening ahead of that.

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple would be opened in the evening under the aegis of the current temple 'tantri' (head priest) and the 'melshanthi' (chief priest) would lead the rituals, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) sources said.

The installation ceremony of the newly appointed 'melshanthis' of the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples would also be held on the occasion, they said.

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