<p>Pathanamthitta, Kerala: The annual ceremonial procession carrying 'Thanka Anki', the sacred golden attire of Lord Ayyappa idol, set off for the Sabarimala temple from Aranmula here on Sunday.</p>.<p>Hundreds of people including devotees and officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) took part in the procession when it began from the Parthasarathy temple here.</p>.<p>Weighing 453 sovereigns, the 'Thanka Anki' was offered to Lord Ayyappa by the Travancore royal family during the 1970s.</p>.<p>The attire used to be kept at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple and would be taken to the hill shrine during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.</p>.<p>Devotees sang Lord Ayyappa hymns and chanted 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' mantra when the attire was taken out on a vehicle richly decorated with flowers for the procession.</p>.<p>TDB president P S Prasanth was also present there during the occasion.</p>.<p>"Now, the Thanka Anki procession began from the Parthasarathy temple. After receiving reception at 74 temples en route it will reach Sabarimala by December 25," he told reporters.</p>.How mensturation is linked to purity: SC asks Sabrimala management.<p>Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan would receive the procession when it reaches Pamba by afternoon on the day, he said.</p>.<p>It would be accorded a grand reception by the temple authorities at Sabarimala Sannidhanam as well in the evening.</p>.<p>The sacred attire would be adorned on the idol of the presiding deity prior to the 'arathi' on December 25 evening.</p>.<p>The auspicious Mandala pooja would be held in Sabarimala on December 26, marking the culmination of the first leg of the annual pilgrimage season.</p>
<p>Pathanamthitta, Kerala: The annual ceremonial procession carrying 'Thanka Anki', the sacred golden attire of Lord Ayyappa idol, set off for the Sabarimala temple from Aranmula here on Sunday.</p>.<p>Hundreds of people including devotees and officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) took part in the procession when it began from the Parthasarathy temple here.</p>.<p>Weighing 453 sovereigns, the 'Thanka Anki' was offered to Lord Ayyappa by the Travancore royal family during the 1970s.</p>.<p>The attire used to be kept at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple and would be taken to the hill shrine during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.</p>.<p>Devotees sang Lord Ayyappa hymns and chanted 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' mantra when the attire was taken out on a vehicle richly decorated with flowers for the procession.</p>.<p>TDB president P S Prasanth was also present there during the occasion.</p>.<p>"Now, the Thanka Anki procession began from the Parthasarathy temple. After receiving reception at 74 temples en route it will reach Sabarimala by December 25," he told reporters.</p>.How mensturation is linked to purity: SC asks Sabrimala management.<p>Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan would receive the procession when it reaches Pamba by afternoon on the day, he said.</p>.<p>It would be accorded a grand reception by the temple authorities at Sabarimala Sannidhanam as well in the evening.</p>.<p>The sacred attire would be adorned on the idol of the presiding deity prior to the 'arathi' on December 25 evening.</p>.<p>The auspicious Mandala pooja would be held in Sabarimala on December 26, marking the culmination of the first leg of the annual pilgrimage season.</p>