Sabarimala Ayyappa temple opens for the Thulam monthly poojas, with darshan from 5 am and closing at 10 pm
21 October 2026
The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple opened on the evening of October 17, 2026 for the Thulam monthly poojas.
Thousands of devotees gathered despite torrential rain.
The temple opened for darshan at 5 am on October 18, the first day of the Malayalam month of Thulam.
A draw of lots to select the new melsanthis for the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples was held on the morning of October 18.
The temple closes at 10 pm on October 22, marking the end of the monthly poojas.
The monthly pooja period therefore runs for about five days.
Opened:
evening of October 17, 2026
Darshan from:
5 am on October 18
Closes:
10 pm on October 22
Why it matters for exams: The Sabarimala pooja calendar and the melsanthi selection by draw of lots are standard Kerala general awareness points.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Melsanthi Chief priest — The chief priest of a temple, chosen at Sabarimala by a draw of lots.