Thousands of pilgrims, mostly from Kerala and other southern States, arrived at Sabarimala temple to pay obeisance to Lord Ayyappa as its doors were opened on Friday, commencing a two-month-long pilgrimage to the hill shrine.
Devotees from various States, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, formed long queue at the Sannidhanam as the temple doors were opened by priests at 3 a.m. on Friday, the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, for the annual pilgrimage.
Kerala Devaswoms Minister K. Radhakrishnan along with MLAs Pramod Narayan and K.U. Jenish Kumar were present during the opening ceremony.