Hundreds of devotees thronged the famous Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on Monday, heralding the auspicious first day of the Malayalam month ‘Vrischikam’ and marking the beginning of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
Devotees, dressed in traditional black attire and carrying the sacred irumudikkettu, queued for hours to offer their prayers. The temple doors opened at dawn, officiated by E.D. Prasad Namboothiri, the newly appointed melsanthi (chief priest), amidst resonating chants dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
The ceremony witnessed the attendance of tantri (head priest) Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru and officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), who confirmed a significant influx of pilgrims well before sunrise. The TDB’s secretary, P.N. Ganeswaran Potti, alongside Sabarimala Executive Officer O.G. Biju, participated in the opening rituals.
When the shrine opened at 3 a.m., long queues stretched across the nadapandal (covered walkway) and sopanam (holy steps), a sight emblematic of the spiritual energy surrounding this sacred pilgrimage. Following the opening of the sanctum sanctorum, sacred rituals such as Nirmalya Abhishekam and Ganapathi Homam took place, infusing the air with divinity.
The temple will close at 1 p.m. before reopening at 3 p.m. to accommodate worshippers until the final closure at 11 p.m., signaled by the sacred chanting of “Harivarasanam,” the revered lullaby of Lord Ayyappa.
In preparation for the expected surge of pilgrims, TDB had ceremonially opened the temple on Sunday evening, kicking off the two-month-long pilgrimage season. This year, officials anticipate devotees not only from India but across the globe, reflecting the spiritual allure that Sabarimala holds.
To effectively manage the heavy rush, the TDB has introduced a cap of 90,000 pilgrims each day, including 70,000 through its virtual queue system and 20,000 via spot booking. This strategic measure aims to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience and uphold the safety and security of all devotees participating in this revered event.
