Sabarimala Niraputhari on August 3: Newly harvested paddy Arrives from Aranmula, Palakkad and Achankovil
Sabarimala: The annual Niraputhari Mahotsavam at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple will be celebrated on August 3 between 5:40 a.m. and 6:20 a.m., on the auspicious Uthrittathi Nakshatram in Karkidakam Rashi. Sacred newly harvested paddy for the ritual are arriving at the hill shrine in processions from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The Newly harvested paddy for the ritual are mainly brought from the paddy fields of Palakkad, Aranmula, and Chettikulangara. Another ceremonial procession, carrying newly harvested paddy brought by Tamil devotees, begins at the Achankovil Sree Dharma Sastha Temple after paddy harvested from Tenkasi is purified, tied into silk bundles, and offered special prayers.
On the morning of August 3, the sacred Newly harvested paddy will be ceremonially received at the Pathinettampadi (18 Holy Steps) by Head Priest (Tantri) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu, Sabarimala Melsanthi E.D. Prasad, Malikappuram Melshanthi M.G. Manu Namboothiri, and the Keezhsanthis (assistant priests).
The Achankovil Niruputhari Ghosha Yatra procession will begin at 4:30 a.m. on August 2 and pass through 23 temples, including Chengottai, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Punalur Puthiyidam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Pathanapuram Kavalayil Temple, Kalanjoor Sree Mahadeva Temple, Malayalappuzha Devi Temple, Konni Sree Kalleli Appooppankavu, Perunad Temple, Nilakkal Sree Mahadeva Temple, and Pampa Ganapathy Temple, before reaching Sabarimala Sannidhanam via Pampa at around 6:30 p.m. Sacred Newly harvested paddy for the Niraputhari ritual will also be distributed to major temples along the route.
On reaching Sabarimala, the Newly harvested paddy are purified with holy water before temple priests carry them on their heads in a ceremonial procession to the Eastern Mandapam. After special rituals, the Newly harvested paddy are taken into the Sreekovil, where they are first placed inside the sanctum and later distributed to devotees as prasadam.
Niraputhari is observed simultaneously at Sabarimala and other temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board, including the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, during the same auspicious muhurtham. The newly harvested paddy is worshipped, offered as nivedyam, and distributed as prasadam.
Devotees also receive sacred Newly harvested paddy along with leaves of banyan, mango, Indian gooseberry, Illi, and Kanjiram, which are traditionally kept in homes as symbols of prosperity. According to temple tradition, participating in the Niraputhari ritual is believed to bring abundant harvests, prosperity, and divine blessings.