Overview
- E. D. Prasad was selected as Melshanthi of the Ayyappa temple and M. G. Manu Namboothiri as Melshanthi of the Malikappuram Devi shrine.
- The Travancore Devaswom Board made the selections through a public draw at Sannidhanam at 8:15 a.m., with lots drawn by Pandalam Palace representatives and proceedings overseen by Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan in the presence of TDB president P. S. Prasanth.
- Both priests will take charge on November 15, aligning with preparations for the Mandala‑Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
- The temple, opened for the Thulam month pujas, reported heavy crowds with about 50,000 virtual‑queue bookings for Saturday.
- President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to pray at Sabarimala on October 22 with NSG‑led security and temporary restrictions during her presence, as a High Court‑appointed SIT continues probing alleged gold‑plate theft with one arrest and nine people named.