Marking the conclusion of the 41-day Mandala pilgrimage season, the temple doors were closed on Saturday night after the Mandala Pooja.
Sabarimala: Lord Ayyappa shone in divine radiance, embodying the essence of ‘Tat Tvam Asi’, for devotees who arrived after observing rigorous vows of physical and spiritual purity at the hill shrine on Saturday. Pilgrims received blessings during the Mandala Pooja, which included the ceremonial procession carrying the sacred golden attire (Thanka Anki).
The Mandala Pooja was conducted between 10.10 am and 11.30 am under the guidance of Thantri (head priest) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu and Melsanthi (chief priest) ED Prasad Namboothiri. The rituals were preceded by Kalabhabhishekam, the traditional bathing of the deity with sandalwood-infused water.
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Later in the evening, the deity was adorned with Bhasmam (sacred ash), the Yoga Danda (T-shaped wooden stick) was placed in the hand, and a Rudraksha garland around the neck, symbolising the Lord’s yogic repose. The sanctum was then closed after the chanting of ‘Harivarasanam’, marking the end of the 41-day Mandala pilgrimage season.
The temple is scheduled to reopen at 5 pm on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festivities, which will be celebrated on January 14, 2026.
Darshan limited to 35,000 amid rush
More than 36 lakh pilgrims visited Sabarimala during this Mandala season. On the Mandala Pooja day alone, 20,152 devotees had darshan until Saturday afternoon. To manage the rush, darshan was restricted to 35,000 pilgrims through the virtual queue system on Saturday.
Published: 28 Dec 2025, 02:31 pm IST
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