Pilgrims visting the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple during the Mandala puja on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: LEJU KAMAL
Thousands of pilgrims on Saturday thronged the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple here to witness the Mandala puja, marking the culmination of the 41-day-long first leg of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
The Mandala puja was performed after adorning the deity with “Thanka Anki,” the sacred golden attire brought to the temple complex in a ceremonial procession on Friday evening. The rituals were performed between 10.10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. in the morning under the aegis of temple Tantri (head priest) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, who adorned the idol with the attire, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials here said.
Long queues of pilgrims, including those from other States, wearing the customary black attire and carrying “Irumudikettu” (sacred bundle) on their heads could be seen on the Sannidhanam since the early hours. After the rendition of Harivarasanam (lullaby to Ayyappa) at 10 p.m., the temple will be closed, marking the culmination of the Mandala puja season, the TDB said.
The temple will open at 5 p.m. on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival, they added.
Published – December 27, 2025 08:30 pm IST
