The Aryavarth Express
Pathanamthitta (Kerala): The Mandala-Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala Temple concluded on Tuesday morning with the closing of the sanctum sanctorum following age-old rituals. The temple doors were shut at 6:45 am after the final ceremonies, which included Vibhuti abhishekam, chanting of Harivarasanam, and Ganapathi Homam. At the eastern mandapam, Ganapathi Homam was also performed in accordance with traditional customs. Mandala-Makaravilakku is an annual festival coinciding with Makar Sankranti in Kerala.
The rituals mark the culmination of the sacred 41-day austerity period (vratham) observed by devotees of Lord Ayyappa, concluding with the Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala. This tradition, originally performed by the Malayaraya tribe—descendants of Malayaman Kaari in the Ponnambalamedu forest where the Makaravilakku appears—has been continued for centuries and is now overseen by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
This year, officials reported that over 50 lakh devotees participated in the pilgrimage. In recent years, the Kerala High Court has directed the TDB to implement stricter guidelines for unregistered pilgrims, ensure scientific crowd management, limit daily numbers, and allow entry only through valid time-slot passes. Measures also include public awareness campaigns via SMS and virtual queues to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety during peak festival days like Makaravilakku.
The festival, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa—the celibate deity revered as the son of Lord Shiva and the female avatar of Vishnu, Mohini—draws millions of devotees annually. It is considered a powerful symbol of faith and spiritual devotion, with pilgrims participating in rituals seeking blessings for prosperity, wellbeing, and spiritual enlightenment.
