Daily Excelsior News

Sabarimala (Kerala), Nov 17: Hundreds of devotees thronged the famed Lord Ayyappa Temple here early on Monday, the auspicious first day of the Malayalam month of Vrichikam, which marks the beginning of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Dressed in the customary black attire and carrying the irumudikkettu (sacred bundle) on their heads, pilgrims from inside and outside the state queued for hours to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa. As the newly appointed melsanthi (chief priest) E