Hundreds of devotees flocked to the renowned Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on Monday, marking the beginning of the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. This auspicious event coincides with the first day of the Malayalam month ‘Vrischikam’. Devotees dressed in traditional black outfits carried the sacred irumudikkettu, making their way through long queues to offer prayers.
The temple’s portals opened at the early hour of 3 a.m. under the guidance of the newly appointed melsanthi (chief priest) E.D. Prasad Namboothiri, amidst the resonant chants of Lord Ayyappa’s hymns. A heavy inflow of pilgrims had already commenced even before dawn, according to officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
At the opening ceremony, tantri (head priest) Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru presided over the rituals, with the presence of TDB Secretary P.N. Ganeswaran Potti and Sabarimala Executive Officer O.G. Biju. Long queues snaked across the nadapandal (covered walkway) and sopanam (holy steps) as devotees awaited their turn to enter the sanctum.
Post the shrine’s opening, a series of rituals including Nirmalya Abhishekam, Ganapathi Homam, and Neyyabhishekam took place. The temple operates with a schedule, closing at 1 p.m., reopening at 3 p.m., and finally concluding the day at 11 p.m., marked by the chanting of “Harivarasanam,” the sacred lullaby dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
On the previous evening, the temple had conducted a ceremonial opening in advance of the two-month pilgrimage season, which anticipates attracting devotees from all corners of the globe.
In preparation for the expected influx of visitors, the TDB has set a cap on daily pilgrim numbers at 90,000. This quota includes 70,000 pilgrims who can enter through the virtual queue system and 20,000 through direct spot bookings. As thousands prepare to embark on this spiritual journey, authorities emphasize a smooth pilgrimage experience.
