Headline: Ambernath residents conduct Ayyappa fest today
Strap:
By: Deepa H Sarna
The Malayalam month of Vrischikam, slated during the mid-November period, welcomes mild winter with refreshingly cool breeze providing an air of spiritual enhancement. One witnesses men clad in black, murmuring chants about Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of Sabarimala.
Residents of Mohan Puram in Ambernath came together for conducting Ayyappa Pooja, irrespective of caste or religion.
This complex comprising 16 buildings with 450 flats of which only 25 families belong to Kerala have been conducting Lord Ayyappa Pooja for the past several years.
Last year more than 1,500 people attended this pooja. Usually Lord Ayyappa Pooja is performed by these residents a day before the devotees, who have observed the fasting period of 41 days leave for the pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
There are people in this group who have been going to the shrine for past 36 years.
"People irrespective of their community, caste or religion come and join us for the rituals. Earlier we celebrated this pooja on an individual level. However, watching the interest shown by the people from other communities, this ritual has now turned into a grand celebration. People not only from the complex but surrounding areas now eagerly wait for this ritual," said Monymohan Panicker, a resident who has been observing the fast.
This year Lord Ayyappa Pooja will be held on today and will start at 5am.
BOX: About this season
• Mandala Kalam is the main pilgrim season of Sabarimala. It starts from the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (Mid November) and ends on the eleventh day of Dhanu (December).
• Devotees who wish to partake in the pilgrimage, live like ascetics for 41 days before embarking their journey to Sabarimala
Basically, devotees must stay away from evil and maintain celibacy. They must abstain from social activities and chant to Lord Ayyappa.

deepa_s@dnaindia.net