Pathanamthitta, September 14, 2013: The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala will be opened on Saturday afternoon for the Onam celebrations that begin the next day. The head priest, N. Damodaran Potti, will open the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 pm on Saturday. The temple rituals will begin with the chief pritest (Tantri), Kandararu Maheswararu, performing the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom on Sunday morning. The Melsanthi will host the Uthradasadya after the Utchapuja at the Sannidhanam on Sunday. A devotee from Seethathode will host the Onasadya on the Thiruvonam day on Monday.

The temple will be closed after the Athapuja on September 19 evening, marking the culmination of the Onam festival.

Source: The Hindu, September 14, 2013