B. Ganesh Prasad Selected as Sabarimala Keezhsanthi; Girish Kumar, Sreekumaran Namboothiri Named Pampa Melshanthis for 2026–27
Sannidhanam: Brahmashree Ganesh Bhatt (B. Ganesh Prasad), Shanthi of Kavallurkonam Devaswom under the Ulloor Group of the Travancore Devaswom Board, has been selected as the Sabarimala Devaswom Ulkazhakam, also known as the Keezhsanthi, for the 2026–27 period through a draw of lots.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
The draw was held at Sabarimala after the Usha Pooja on Monday. The selection took place in the presence of Devaswom Commissioner B. Sunil Kumar, Sabarimala Special Commissioner J. Jayakrishnan and Sabarimala Executive Officer P.S. Shanthakumar.
The Sabarimala temple was opened early Monday morning for the Chingam Masa pooja, with a large number of devotees arriving at the Sannidhanam from 5 am.
Meanwhile, a separate draw was held after 10 am at the Pampa Maha Ganapathi Temple to select the Melshanthis of Pampa Devaswom for 2026–27. Pampa has two Ganapathi shrines — the Maha Ganapathi Temple and the ancient Adi Moola Ganapathi Shrine.
S. Girish Kumar, Shanthi of Padanaikulangara Devaswom under the Karunagappally Group, and M.S. Sreekumaran Namboothiri, Shanthi of Ambalathubhagam Devaswom under the Karunagappally Group, were selected as the Pampa Devaswom Melshanthis for the 2026–27 period.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
The selection of the Pampa Melshanthis and Sabarimala Keezhsanthis was conducted through the traditional draw-of-lots procedure.
The process included interviews followed by a draw of lots to select and appoint the Pampa Melshanthis (chief priests) and Sabarimala Keezhsanthis (assistant priests) for the period from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027, under the Travancore Devaswom Board.