PATHANAMTHITTA (Kerala), Jan 12: Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn offered prayers
at the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa temple situated on a hilltop in the Western Ghats
of Kerala on Wednesday morning. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, also
called 'Sastha.'
Dressed in black as per the tradition and carrying a bundle, called 'Irumudi
Kettu,' containing offerings like coconut and ghee, on the head, Devgn reached
the sanctum sanctorum at 11:30 am, after arriving at the nearby Nilackal in
a helicopter from Kochi. The temple is at the top of a steep hill from the Pampa
valley below.
At the Sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum ), Devaswom Board officials received
the actor. Board executive officer V Krishna Kumar Warrier draped him with a 'ponnada'.
Devgn also offered prayers at the Malikappuram temple in the premises, and
returned in the afternoon.
The temple is currently open for Makaravilakku festival on January 14 - the
second phase of the annual temple pilgrimage that began on December 30. The
first phase of the season, Mandala Pooja, began on November 15 and ended on
December 26, after 41 days. A pilgrim has to follow a strict regimen of religious
practices from day one, marked by austerity and abstinence.
SEE Details at: SABARIMALA, the pilgrim centre
Devgn is a wellknown Bollywood actor who has acted in over a hundred movies.
He has won national awards and received Padma Shri, the Government of India's
civilian award. Some of his successful films are Jigar (1992), Sangram (1993),
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Golmaal Returns (2008). He is
also a director and producer. The forthcoming film Runway 34 is directed and
produced by him.
