'Thanka Anki’ procession to set off to Sabarimala on December 23
By Newsmeter Network Published on 19 Dec 2019 2:35 PM GMT
Kochi: The procession carrying sacred gold attire ‘Thanka Anki’ for adorning Lord Ayyappa’s idol at Sabarimala will set off from Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta on December 23.
The late Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma of Travancore dynasty offered the ‘Anki’, weighing 420 sovereigns to Lord Ayyappa in 1973. The attire is kept at Parthasarathy Temple — a prominent temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Every pilgrimage season, a procession is held, and the Thanka Anki moves to Sabarimala for adorning the idol on Mandala Puja. The latter is a practice introduced by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
A motorised chariot bearing ‘Thanka Anki’ will start at 7 am from Parthasarathy temple and will reach Rakthakanda Swamy Temple at Omalloor at 8 pm the same day. The procession will further proceed the next day morning and halt at Muringamangalam Mahadevar temple at Konni during the night.
On the morning of December 15, the procession will restart and reach Dharmashastha Temple at Perinadu in the night. It will arrive at Pamba at 1.30 pm the next day (December 26) via Laha and Nilackal. A rousing traditional reception will be given at Saramkutti near Sannidhanam at 5.30 pm.
The deity will be adorned with the ‘Anki’ before deeparadhana at Ayyappa temple in the evening and before Mandala Puja during noon on December 27.
