‘Thanka Anki’, a four-day procession of Sabarimala Ayyappa idol decorated in golden attire, is going to start today, December 23 in 2011, from Aranmula. It is one of the famous rituals held at Sabarimala temple during the Mandala Puja. The gold ornaments were offered to the Lord by the Travancore royal house when the shrine was part of the princely state.
At 7 am on 23 December, the 80-km Ratha Yatra is started from the Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district. Throughout the way, devotees pay their respect to the golden attire of Lord Ayyappa.
The Thanka Anki Ratha Yatra will reach Sabarimala temple on December 26, 2011, a day prior to Mandala Pooja.