The Auckland Hindu Malayali Samajam hosted the Ayyappan Puja at Sri Ganesh Temple in Papakura on Sunday, December 16. Ayyappan Puja is a significant event celebrated at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, India.
Ayyappan Vilaku is an integral part of the religious ceremonies observed by the followers of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala where they do penance for 41 days for their sins, starting with wearing a tulsi (basil) mala garland.
The observances back in India are done by the devotees who carry the ghee in the coconut and take it to the temple with the permission of the head/leader of the Samaj to the Sabarimala Temple.
The priest breaks the coconut and uses milk and scented water to perform Abhishekam of the deity Lord Ayyappan.
The devotee as a part of the penance fasts and stays away from meat during this period.
A similar process of puja was conducted in Auckland, where devotees went to six different temples with the coconut-filled with ghee and came back to Sri Ganesh Temple, took a shower and started the puja in front of the other devotees.
Priest Chandru, who was conducting the puja, washed the deity idol with scented water, milk, broke open the coconut and poured ghee on the deity – a process of Abhishekam.
Devotees and priests conducted Aarti, chanted rudrams, sang bhajans, and also read AyyappanPaath.
Sabarimala Temple in India is visited by thousands of devotees every day, and the puja is conducted in a grand manner.
The Auckland Malayali Hindu Samajam replicating the important Puja in Auckland saw more than400 people gathered for the celebrations at the temple.
“We started AMHS to inculcate the Hindu culture in the Malayali Hindus in Auckland, conduct special pujas and continue the traditions of the community especially for the children to learn and follow,” Maju Nair from the Auckland Malayali Hindu Samajam told The Indian Weekender.