Pathanamthitta: Makaravilakku (Makara sacred flame) was lit at Ponnambalamedu to enable the darshan of lakhs of devotees who had assembled for one of the most sacred moments of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. As the Makara Nakshatra (Makara star) appeared thrice in the sky, the shrine was opened for the Deepa Rath (sacred lamp ritual) at the Sabarimala mandir. The lighting of the Makaravilakku coincided with the Deepa Rath ritual, during which the Thiruvabharanam (holy ornaments of the Bhagwan Ayyappa) was ceremonially offered. After receiving darshan of Bhagwan Ayyappa adorned with the sacred ornaments, devotees began descending the holy hill. Thousands of Ayyappas (devotees) waited at the Sannidhanam (mandir precincts) and in surrounding areas, including Pullumedu, for the auspicious Makaravilakku darshan.
The Makara Jyoti lit up at Ponnambalamedu, transforming the entire Sabarimala region into a sea of devotion. Thousands of pilgrims stood in long queues near the sanctum sanctorum to witness the Makara Vilakku darshan. A deeply devotional atmosphere prevailed across the parnasalas and resting areas. Devotees who had arrived over the past several days, including those already at the Sannidhanam, waited with intense anticipation for the moment when the Makara Jyoti would illuminate the distant hill. The Thiruvabharanam procession reached the Sannidhanam at around 6.20 pm. The group carrying the sacred ornaments was formally received by Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan, Travancore Devaswom Board President K Jayakumar, Board members P D Santosh Kumar and K Raju, among others. At the Sopanam, the Thiruvabharanam pedakam was received by Thantri Kandar Mahesh Mohanar and Melshanthi E D Prasad Namboothiri. The Deeparadhana using the Thiruvabharanam brought from the Pandalam Palace was held at 6.40 pm. At this time, devotees were blessed with the darshan of the Makaravilakku at Ponnambalamedu.
പൊന്നമ്പലമേട്ടിൽ മകരജ്യോതി തെളിഞ്ഞു | Makaravilakku 2026 | Sabarimala #SabarimalaMandir #sabarimalai #MakaraSankranti pic.twitter.com/nYeqx0jdzz
— Kerala News & Gallery (@kerala9) January 14, 2026
The Thiruvabharanam procession had earlier set out from the Pandalam Palace and reached the Sannidhanam by evening. At Saramkuthi, Devaswom Board office bearers received the sacred ornaments and escorted them towards the temple. After crossing the sacred eighteenth step and entering the Sannidhanam, the Thiruvabharanam was formally handed over to the Thantri and the Melshanthi in accordance with age-old rituals. Makarasankrama Puja is performed when the sun transits from Sagittarius to Capricorn, marking the onset of Uttarayanam. In synchrony with this celestial transition, the Makara Jyoti was lit at Ponnambalamedu while Deeparadhana was offered to Bhagwan Ayyappa adorned with the Thiruvabharanam. As the Makara Nakshatra rose in the sky, devotees witnessed the divine light and raised collective cries of surrender and devotion. The key ceremonies of the day included Makarasankrama Puja, Deeparadhana with the Thiruvabharanam, darshan of the Makara Jyoti, the procession of Bhgwan Ayyappa from Malikappuram, and Kalamezhuthu performed at the Mani Mandapam. Makarasankrama Puja was conducted at 3.08 pm. At the Sankrama Muhurat, which signifies the beginning of Uttarayanam, special Sankrama Puja and Abhishekam were performed for Bhagwan Ayyappa.
Police officials estimated that more than two lakh pilgrims had reached the shrine for the Makaravilakku festivities. Devotees camped at all vantage points from where Ponnambalamedu could be viewed without obstruction. To prevent accidents caused by overcrowding and congestion, strict restrictions were enforced.
The KSRTC arranged around 1,000 buses to facilitate the return journey of pilgrims after the rituals.
Lakhs of devotees gathered along both sides of the long sacred walkway, making the entire Sannidhanam reverberate with chants of “Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa.” Devotees waited for the rare and symbolic moment when Bhagwan Ayyappa is believed to transform from a yogi into a warrior upon adorning the ornaments sent by his father from the Pandalam Palace. The Thiruvabharanam, brought through the sacred path, was first circled around the altar near the deepam and then carried across the eighteenth step into the sanctum.
The Thiruvabharanam is traditionally carried in three boxes. The first contains the ornaments to be worn by Bhagwan Ayyappa, the second silver box holds gold vessels and materials for the puja of Malikappuratamma, and the third flag box contains sacred forms and items required for the Malikappuratamma procession. In view of the massive crowd, police implemented elaborate security measures. Special traffic arrangements were enforced from Ilavungal to the Sannidhanam. Additional medical teams were deployed at Sannidhanam and Pampa, while light refreshments and drinking water were distributed to waiting devotees.
Following the Makaravilakku, devotees can continue darshan until January 20. The Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage season will formally conclude when the temple closes after the darshan of the Pandalam royal palace representative on the morning of January 21.
