Following the conclusion of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, the Thiruvabharanam return procession has set out towards the Srambikkal Palace at Pandalam. After the Ganapathi Homam, the procession began its journey at 6:15 a.m., descending the sacred eighteen steps under the leadership of Periyaswami Maruthuvana Sivankutty.
The 30-member team is returning via the same route it had taken earlier and is scheduled to reach the Srambikkal Palace, Pandalam, on January 23. The first box contains the Thiruvabharanam that adorns the Lord after ascending the eighteen steps. It includes the Thirumukham (sacred face), Prabha, Churika, sword, Pushkala, complete deity forms, figures of elephant, tiger, leopard, and the Valampiri Shankh (right-spiralled conch).
Two boxes were taken to Malikappuram. The second box includes the golden vessel offered by the Pandalam royal representative for the Kalabhabhishekam. This box was also brought down through the eighteen steps. The third box contains the flags of Thalapparamala and Udumparamala, the Ayyappan Thidambu (ornamental deity), Nettipattam (elephant forehead ornament), etc., which were used for the Vilakk ezhunnallippu (ceremonial procession with lamps).
During the return journey via the Kollamuzhi–Nilakkal route, the team will rest at the shelter near the Laha Forest Department office. On January 21, there will be darshan after adorning the Ayyappa idol at the Kakkad Koyikkal Temple in Perunad with the Thiruvabharanam.
On January 22, the procession will rest at the Aranmula Palace, where devotees will have an opportunity to view the Thiruvabharanam as the boxes are opened for darshan. The journey will then continue to the Srambikkal Palace at Pandalam, where it will arrive on January 23.
