Sabarimala: The sacred hills of Sabarimala witnessed an overwhelming surge of devotion on the first day of the Karthigai month, with approximately 1.5 lakh devotees gathering for the darshan of Lord Ayyappa. The influx led to extensive waiting times, with pilgrims enduring waits of up to six hours to ascend the holy Pathinettam Padi (18 steps) and enter the temple, signalling a bustling start to the annual pilgrimage season.
Overwhelming Influx Exceeds Daily Limit
The sheer volume of devotees on the inaugural day far exceeded the standard daily limit. While the authorities typically cap the number of pilgrims at 90,000 per day, the police department reported that the figure swelled to 1.5 lakh due to the significant increase in arrivals. Devotees from across South India, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala, began thronging the temple premises early in the morning, creating a continuous stream of pilgrims along the walkways and the sacred steps.
#WATCH | Kerala | Devotees gather in large numbers at the Sabarimala temple, as it opens for the annual ‘Mandala-Makaravilakku’ pilgrimage. pic.twitter.com/A4Opq0s4KS
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2025
Commencement of the 41-Day Mandala Puja Season
The temple opened its doors at 5 PM yesterday, marking the beginning of the auspicious 41-day Mandala Puja period. The rituals were initiated by the former Melshanti (head priest), Arun Kumar Namboothiri, who opened the sanctum sanctorum, lit the lamp, and descended the eighteenth step to light the traditional lamp in the deeparadhana pond. The rituals at the Maligappuram shrine were performed by another former head priest, Vasudevan Namboothiri.
Key Dates for the Pilgrimage Season
The Sabarimala temple will remain open for a continuous 41-day period for the Mandala Puja. The important dates for devotees to note are:
-
Mandala Puja: The temple will close at 10 PM on December 27 after the 41st-day rituals.
-
Re-opening for Makaravilakku: The temple will reopen on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival.
-
Makaravilakku Puja: The grand Makaravilakku Puja, one of the most significant events of the pilgrimage, will be held on January 14.
The exceptional turnout on the first day sets the stage for a densely populated and spiritually charged pilgrimage season, with authorities managing the delicate balance between facilitating devotion and ensuring crowd safety.