Massive Devotee Turnout Marks Opening Day of Sabarimala Pilgrimage Season
Thousands queue from early morning as Mandalam–Makaravilakku season begins in Kerala
Sabarimala (Kerala), Nov 17: The annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season began on Monday with massive crowds of devotees thronging the revered Lord Ayyappa Temple on the auspicious first day of the Malayalam month ‘Vrischikam’.
Dressed in traditional black attire and carrying the sacred irumudikkettu, pilgrims from across Kerala and neighbouring states queued for hours before dawn to offer their prayers. The newly appointed melsanthi (chief priest), E.D. Prasad Namboothiri, opened the temple portals in the presence of tantri Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru, as chants of “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa” echoed through the hill shrine.
According to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), heavy inflow of devotees began early in the morning, forming long queues along the nadapandal (walkway) and up the sacred sopanam steps. TDB Secretary P. N. Ganeswaran Potti and Sabarimala Executive Officer O.G. Biju were among the officials present during the opening rituals.
Following the opening at 3 am, the temple performed key rituals including Nirmalya Abhishekam, Ganapathi Homam, and Neyyabhishekam. The shrine will remain open until 1 pm, reopen from 3 pm to 11 pm, and close with the traditional “Harivarasanam” lullaby.
The temple was formally opened on Sunday evening ahead of the two month long Mandalam–Makaravilakku pilgrimage period, which attracts lakhs of devotees from around the globe. The installation ceremony of the new melshanthis of the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples was also conducted the previous evening.
To ensure smooth crowd management, TDB has capped the daily footfall at 90,000 devotees 70,000 through the virtual queue system and 20,000 via spot booking.
