Sabarimala Ayyappa temple gets new chief priest

S E Sankaran Namboothiri was today selected as the new 'melsanti' (chief priest) of the famed Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala in Kerala.
E S Unnikrishnan was selected as the 'melsanti' of the adjoining Malikappuram Devi Temple, a Devaswom Board release said here.
The priests are selected for a year ahead of the upcoming pilgrimage season beginning next month, it said.
The selections were made by draw of lots from shortlisted candidates under the aegis of Sabarimala Speical Commissioner K Babu.
Sankaran Namboothiri is at present the chief priest of Jalahalli Ayyappa Swamy Temple in Bengaluru, the release added.