Thiruvananthapuram:
A large number of devotees from many parts of the country visit the famous Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple in Kerala during Mandal and Makaravilakku Puja. Sabarimala Ayyappan temple walk was opened on the 30th of last month for Makara Lampu Puja after Mandal Puja. Only those devotees who registered through online booking and instant booking were allowed for darshan.
Since the opening of the walk, devotees flocked to Sabarimala and had to wait for darshan for a long time. Following this instant booking was stopped. Due to this, the number of devotees decreased to some extent.
In this case Makaravilakku Pooja will be held tomorrow (15th). Devotees who have made reservations for darshan on this day have started gathering at Sabarimala since yesterday. As a result, a crowd of devotees was seen everywhere. The golden tiruvaparanas worn by Ayyappan during Makaravilakku Puja are kept safely in Pandalam Palace in 3 sandalwood boxes. The ornaments left in a procession to Sabarimala yesterday under heavy police protection.
The procession passed through the traditional highway route of Erumeli, Lagikatti, Arudhamalai, Mukkuzhi, Karimala. The Thiruvaparana procession will reach Bombay tomorrow (15th) afternoon, from where it will reach Sabarimala at 6.30 pm through the tree grove, straddling the sharana koshas of devotees. There, a reception will be given under the leadership of Minister Radhakrishnan on behalf of the Travancore Devasthanam under the 18th step.
Then the Thiruvaparanas, which are carried through the 18th step, are placed on Ayyappan and a special Deeparathan is held. After that, Swami Ayyappan will appear in the form of Jyoti to the devotees 3 times at Ponnambalamed. Devotees will have darshan while chanting saran kosham. Makara Sangrama Pooja, which is held earlier on the occasion of Makara Lampu Pooja, will be led by Tantri at 2.46 am. Then Ayyappan will be anointed with ghee brought from Thiruvananthapuram’s Kavadiyar Palace to cover the body of virgin Ayyappanmars.
As around 4 lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple at Sabarimala to participate in the Makaravilakku Puja, the police have put extra emphasis on security. Kerala State Police DGP. Sheikh Darvesh said that an additional 1000 policemen including 4 superintendents, 19 deputy superintendents and 15 inspectors will be engaged in security work at important places like Sannithanam, Bombay, Nilakkal and Panditavalam.
He said that a proper exit plan is in place to avoid any mishap to the devotees coming down from the hill after the Maharajyothi darshan and all arrangements have been made at places where devotees gather to see the Maharajyothi.
Devotees will not be allowed to climb the hill from Bombay from 10 am tomorrow (15th) to facilitate the transportation of Thiruvaparana boxes for Ayyappan. Likewise, pilgrims are prohibited from going through the 18th step from 6.30 pm to 8 pm.
Devotees are allowed to step down after 8 pm after the pujas are completed after Ayyappan is decorated with gold ornaments. Devotees will be allowed to climb the hill again from Bombay tomorrow (16th) morning.