The initial 41-day phase of the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season concluded at Sabarimala on Wednesday. Large crowds of devotees gathered at the hill shrine for the Mandala pooja, conducted between 10:30 am and 11:30 am. Following this, the temple was closed at 11 pm and is scheduled to reopen on December 30 at 5 pm for the Makaravilakku festival.
Sabarimala experienced significant pilgrim activity until Wednesday morning, with a substantial influx of devotees. However, after 9 am, there was a noticeable decline in the number of pilgrims at Pampa and Nilakkal. Devotees arriving at Pampa in the early hours of Tuesday encountered over a seven-hour wait in queues to reach Valiya Nadapandal at Sannidhanam.
The Mandala pooja, conducted by Thantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, involved adorning the deity’s idol with thanka anki, the sacred golden attire. Preceding the Mandala pooja, special rituals, including kalabhabhishekam and kalasabhishekam, took place. The renowned Petta Thullal at Erumely is scheduled for January 12, while the procession carrying the Thiruvabharanam to Sabarimala will commence from Pandalam on January 13. Makaravilakku is set for January 15, and devotees can partake in darshan until January 20. The temple will conclude with the customary holy darshan of the royal representative on January 21 morning.
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