AV Unnikrishnan Namboothiri is Sabarimala temple's new melsanthi [Video]

A native of Chalakudy in Thrissur, AV Unnikrishnan Namboothiri will be the Sabarimala melsanthi for the next yearAneesh Namboothiri, a native of Kollam, has been selected as melsanthi at the Malikappuram Devi Temple

Priest AV Unnikrishnan Namboothiri has been chosen as the melsanthi (head priest) of the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala.

Unnikrishnan was selected through a draw of lots on Tuesday. A native of Chalakudy in Thrissur, Unnikrishnan will be the Sabarimala melsanthi for the next year.

Meanwhile, Aneesh Namboothiri, a native of Mynagapally in Kollam, has been selected as melsanthi at the Malikappuram Devi Temple.

The draw of lots was held at the sanctum sanctorum on Tuesday morning after pujas at the respective temples in the presence of devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran and Travancore devaswom board (TDB) president Prayar Gopalakrishnan.

Unnikrishnan was among the 14 priests shortlisted by the TDB for the post. Both priests will take charge for the pilgrimage season, which will begin after the mandala puja on November 15.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who arrived at Sabarimala the other day, chaired a review meeting on Tuesday.