Hundreds of devotees thronged the famed Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on Monday, marking the auspicious first day of the Malayalam month ‘Vrischikam’ and the commencement of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. This annual event draws thousands of pilgrims from Kerala and across India eager to seek blessings from Lord Ayyappa.
Devotees arrived dressed in traditional black attire and carrying the sacred irumudikkettu, a symbolic offering. They patiently queued for hours to enter the temple, where they participated in prayers amid the sacred chants echoing throughout the complex. The temple portals opened at 3 a.m., led by the newly appointed melsanthi, E.D. Prasad Namboothiri.
The opening ceremony, attended by tantri Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru and officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), witnessed a heavy influx of pilgrims even before dawn. TDB officials reported a continuous stream of devotees arriving at the site, eager to experience the holy atmosphere and seek divine intervention.
“The smooth functioning of the pilgrimage season is our priority. We have made extensive arrangements, including capping the number of daily pilgrims,” said TDB Secretary P.N. Ganeswaran Potti. The devotees began gathering long before the temple opened its doors, forming long queues across the nadapandal (covered walkway) and sopanam (holy steps).
Following the temple’s opening, several rituals, including Nirmalya Abhishekam, Ganapathi Homam, and Neyyabhishekam, took place. These rituals, integral to the Hindu faith, aim to invoke blessings and peace for all attendees. The temple will close its main sanctum at 1 p.m. and reopen briefly at 3 p.m., finally concluding the day’s rituals at 11 p.m. with the chanting of “Harivarasanam,” the sacred lullaby of Lord Ayyappa.
Earlier on Sunday, the temple underwent a ceremonial opening to prepare for the two-month pilgrimage season, which is expected to attract over 90,000 devotees daily. With a meticulously developed system in place, the TDB announced that attendance will be capped at 90,000 devotees per day during the pilgrimage season, including 70,000 through the virtual queue system and 20,000 through on-site booking.
Officials believe these measures will help manage the large crowds, ensuring a smooth pilgrimage experience for everyone involved. The fervor and devotion surrounding the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season reflects the deep cultural significance of the event, as pilgrims make their annual journey to seek spiritual fulfillment and blessings from Lord Ayyappa.
