Prathishta Dinam

Prathishta Dinam, or Installation Day, commemorates the anniversary of the installation of the idol at Sabarimala. The ceremonies performed on this day are abbreviated forms of the rituals originally conducted during the idol's installation. These poojas are tantric processes intended to cleanse the idol of impurities accumulated over the year from human or natural causes, restoring its full vitality through Prana Pratishtha. Key rituals include the Kalasha Pooja and Kalasha Abhishekam.

Sabarimala has experienced idol installation twice in the last century following fires. The first incident occurred in January 1902, during Makara Sankrama, when the temple was closed for worship. A fire broke out when the grass on the collapsed roof caught fire, setting the temple ablaze. Despite the rapid spread of the fire, Vasudevan Emprantiri and Melshanti Chengannur Kadakethu Math managed to save the Thiruvabharanam and the 50 kg panchaloha (five-metal alloy) idol of Ayyappa. The area above the Pathinettampadi (18 steps) was purified, and poojas resumed. It took eight years to rebuild the temple and reinstall a new stone idol.

The second fire incident occurred in 1950. When Melshanti and his team arrived at Sannidhanam for monthly poojas on May 20, they found the temple destroyed, reportedly by fire. Both the shrine and the Ayyappa idol were damaged. The temple was then rebuilt, and the current panchaloha idol of Swami Ayyappan was installed. This idol was sculpted by Ayyappa Panikkar and Neelakanta Panikkar of the Chengannur Thattavila family, renowned Deva sculptors, and prepared at Chengannur Mahadeva Temple after a period of strict fasting. The idol features Lord Ayyappa in a meditative pose (samadhi) with the chinmudra gesture and a yoga belt.

Tantri Kandararu Shankarar conducted the consecration ceremonies, performing the Prana Pratishta on the Atham asterism of the month of Idavam [May-June]. Today, Kalasha Pooja is held at Sabarimala on the first day of Idavam as part of the installation ceremony. Additional poojas take place on the eve of Uthram (Lord's Day) and the following day as part of the Prathishta Day celebrations.