Chanting Hindu god Ayappa's name and sporting black clothes and sacred beads, they set off for the Sabarimala temple Saturday. But they weren't quite Indian pilgrims.

The four devotees had descended from Sweden to undertake the journey to Sabarimala, 120 km from this Kerala capital.
 

The team is led by Donald Macfee, a 63-year-old computer teacher, and includes Joan, a 60-year-old social worker, Hans Goine, a 53-year-old insurance company official, and Gustaf, a 23-year-old student of music.

"We were told by our tour planners about this temple which is a very important place of worship for Hindus and we were all excited when we left Sweden last week," Macfee told IANS.

The Sabarimala temple is visited by millions of people every year.

After arriving at the Ganapati temple in the heart of the city from their hotel in Kovalam, clad in bermudas, the four Swedes changed to the traditional dress of a black mundu.

They were taken into the temple sanctum sanctorum where a priest smeared their forehead with sandalwood paste. Amid the chanting of mantras, the priest asked them to wear bead necklaces - a must for anyone who visits Sabarimala.

Then they squatted on the floor of the temple where another priest helped them tie a sacred bag containing offerings for the Sabarimala temple.

"My son Gustaf is really excited and, besides studying, worked to save money for this trip," said his mother Katarina.

Joan said: "I am fit for the nearly five-kilometre trek up the hill from Pamba (the foothills of the temple). We have lot of mountains in Sweden, so no problem."

Bergitta, the wife of Goine, was a bit disappointed that she could not accompany her husband to Sabarimala. "Yes, we are aware that only elderly women can visit the temple," said Goine.

But the chosen four who were going on the pilgrimage were thrilled.

They emerged from the Ganapati temple chanting "Swami Ayyapo, Ayyapo Swami" and got into a vehicle to set off Sabarimala. They are expected to return Sunday night.

--Indo-Asian News Service