Sabarimala: Thanka Anki Procession and Deeparadhana on 26th Evening
Sabarimala: The ceremonial Deeparadhana with the sacred Thanka Anki (golden attire) of Lord Ayyappa will be held on the evening of December 26, marking one of the most important rituals of the Mandala season, the Thanka Anki was offered to the Sabarimala temple by the late Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma of the erstwhile Travancore royal family in 1973.
The Thanka Anki, brought in a grand procession from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, will reach Saramkuthi at around 5 PM on the 26th. After the temple’s evening opening, the Tantri will offer special poojas and decorate the sacred garlands before sending the welcoming team to receive the procession.
Accompanied by traditional percussion ensembles and tight police security, the procession will reach the Sannidhanam. The Devaswom Board president and members will receive it at the starting of the sacred 18 steps and escort it to the Sopanam. There, the Tantri and Melsanthi will ceremonially receive the Thanka Anki and adorn the Ayyappa idol before conducting the Deeparadhana. This moment attracts the largest gathering of pilgrims each Mandala season.
Thanka Anki Procession Route and Expected Timings
December 23–24 Route
Moorthitta Ganapathy Temple – 7:15 AM
Punnamthottam Devi Temple – 7:30 AM
Chavittukulam Mahadeva Temple – 7:45 AM
Thiruvanchamkavu Temple – 8:00 AM
Nedumprayar Thevarasheri Devi Temple – 8:30 AM
Nedumprayar Junction – 9:30 AM
Kozhencherry Town – 10:00 AM
Ayyappa Mandapam (College Junction) – 10:15 AM
Pampadimon Ayyappa Temple – 10:30 AM
Karimveli – 11:00 AM
Elanthur Edathavalam – 11:15 AM
Elanthur Bhagavathykunnu Temple – 11:20 AM
Elanthur Ganapathy Temple – 11:30 AM
Elanthur Narayanamangalam – 12:30 PM
Ayathil Malanada Junction – 2:00 PM
Ayathil Gurumandiram Junction – 2:40 PM
Mezhuveli Anandabhootheshwaram Temple – 2:50 PM
Elavumthitta Devi Temple – 3:15 PM
Elavumthitta Malanada – 3:45 PM
Muttathukonam SNDP Mandiram – 4:30 PM
Kaithavana Devi Temple – 5:30 PM
Prakkanam Edanad Devi Temple – 6:00 PM
Cheekanal – 6:30 PM
Uppamon Junction – 7:00 PM
Omalloor Sreeraktakanta Swamy Temple – 8:00 PM
December 24 – Start of Second Day Procession (8 AM from Omalloor)
Kodumthara Subramanya Swamy Temple – 9:00 AM
Azhur Junction – 10:00 AM
Pathanamthitta Urmman Kovil – 10:45 AM
Pathanamthitta Temple – 11:00 AM
Karimpanakkal Devi Temple – 11:30 AM
Sharadhamadam Mundukottackal SNDP Hall – 12:00 PM
Kadamanitta Bhagavathy Temple – 1:00 PM
Kottappara Kallelimukku – 2:30 PM
Perumkad SNDP Hall – 2:45 PM
Maikozhur Temple – 3:15 PM
Mylapra Bhagavathy Temple – 3:45 PM
Kumbazha Junction – 4:15 PM
Palamattur Ambalamukku – 4:30 PM
Vettoor Mahavishnu Temple (Gopurappadi) – 5:30 PM
Elakollur Mahadeva Temple – 6:15 PM
Chittoormukku – 7:15 PM
Konni Town – 7:45 PM
Konni Chiraykkal Temple – 8:00 PM
Konni Muringamangalam Temple – 8:30 PM
December 25 – Third Day (Starts 7:30 AM from Muringamangalam Temple)
Chittoor Mahadeva Temple – 8:00 AM
Vettoor Temple – 9:00 AM
Mailadumpara – 10:30 AM
Kottamukku – 11:00 AM
Malayalapuzha Temple – 12:00 PM
Malayalapuzha Thazham – 1:00 PM
Mannarakulanji Temple – 1:15 PM
Ranni Ramapuram Temple – 3:30 PM
Idakkulam Temple – 5:30 PM
Vadasserikkara Cherukavu – 6:30 PM
Prayar Mahavishnu Temple – 7:00 PM
Madamon Temple – 7:45 PM
Perunad Temple – 8:30 PM
December 26 – Final Day (Starts 8 AM from Perunad)
Laha – 9:00 AM
Plappally – 10:00 AM
Nilakkal Mahadev Temple – 11:00 AM
Pampa – 1:30 PM
Saramkuthi – 5:00 PM
Finally Reach Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Sannidhanam.