Date:14/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/14/stories/2008011454430100.htm

Front Page

Sabarimala all set for Makaravilakku

Staff Reporter

Sabarimala: With hardly a day left for the sighting of Makarajyoti and the celestial star Makara, Sabarimala Sannidhanam and the surrounding forest areas turned into a sea of humanity by Sunday evening. For the past few days, Ayyappa devotees from various parts of South India have been camping at Sabarimala and the base camps around the holy hillock for Makaravilakku on Monday.

Rooftops of almost all buildings at the Sannidhanam have been occupied. Pilgrims have pitched tents on hillsides in the forests, from where they can have Makarajyoti darshan.

A multitude of pilgrims have been camping at Pulmedu, Pandithavalam, the Sannidhanam, Pampa hilltop, Nilackal and Attathode for darshan. Pilgrims were found lying on either side of the pathway to Sabarimala, on pavements and in makeshift tents made of locally available leaves and twigs.

Traffic blocked

The police blocked vehicular traffic at Plappally and Nilackal at regular intervals in the evening to ease pressure at Sabarimala and Pampa.

Inflow of pilgrims was so heavy that the police had to block them at Pampa and Marakkoottam on the traditional trekking path.

Rituals preparatory to the festival, including Bimbasuddhi and Prasadasuddhi, were completed in the evening.

Procession

The procession carrying the sacred jewellery Thiruvabharanam will reach Plappally on Monday morning after halt overnight at Laha Sathram. Tribal people will accord a reception to the royal entourage at Thalappara, near Plappally, on the Mannarakkulanji-Pampa main trunk road on Monday morning.

The tribal chief will perform puja to Thiruvabharanam. A good number of Ayyappa devotees are camping at Plappally to witness the reception. The procession will reach Sannidhanam in the afternoon and the Ayyappa idol will be decorated with Thiruvabharanam prior to Deeparadhana in the evening.

The Deeparadhana will coincide with the appearance of the Makara star on the eastern horizon followed by Makarajyoti flickering thrice on a distant hillside facing the temple.

Devotees believe that Makarajyoti darshan brings them good luck and divine blessings, and the inflow of pilgrims to witness it has been on the rise every year.