The devotee may wear a bead chain with the locket of Sree Ayyappan. Once the chain is worn, he wil be called as “Ayyappa” – the name of God. The devotee has to lead a life free of worldly pleasures, strictly vegetarian. Vices such as smoking and alcohol use are also a strict no-no. The pilgrim is also required to lead a life of conjugal abstinence. Religious practices mandate that the Mala should be accepted after prayers from a temple priest or a Guru Swami – a person who has completed 18 Sabarimala pilgrimage. Alternatively, the Mala may be also worn in the prayer room/place of one’s own home. The Mala may be taken off after the completion of the pilgrimage only.