Mangalore: Ayyappa Devotees’ Conference Stresses Need for Uniformity in Rituals  
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)  

Mangalore, May 3: “There are a lot of differences between rituals performed during the ‘Sabarimala Vrutha’ and other rituals by devotees in Kerala and other parts of the nation, which need to be corrected by following ancient books”, said Vishakam Thirunal Ramavarma Raja, president, Pandalam Palace committee.  

Speaking at the state conference of the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangamam (ABASS), organized by its Karnataka Council at Town Hall, he said that many devotees follow rituals different from the tradition. 

“All Ayyappa devotees must perform these as per the ancient books and it should be in a uniform way”, he added.

“The ABASS needs to take necessary measures to perform the rituals before wearing the ‘Mala’ and till the visit to the temple”, said Raja adding that devotees numbering into the lacs visit the shrine every year but most of them do not know its history.  

Manohar Prasad, bureau chief, ‘Udayavani’, and former MP Vinayakumar Sorake were the guests of honour.  

Former MP and ABASS central committee president T G Balakrishna Pillai, office-bearers M Rajendran Nair and N Shrinivasan, as well as conference committee chairman Ajith Kumar Rai Malady were also present.