Sabarimala ,27 Dec (H.S.):The 41-day Mandala pilgrimage at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple concluded on a spiritually significant note with the performance of the Mandala Pooja, one of the most sacred rituals of the annual pilgrimage calendar.

The auspicious ritual, during which the idol of Lord Ayyappa was adorned with the sacred Thiruvabharanam (golden ornaments), was held between 10.10 am and 11.30 am.

In view of the Mandala Pooja, strict crowd control measures were enforced at the hill shrine. Devotee entry was regulated, with darshan permitted for 35,000 pilgrims through the virtual queue system.

The temple will close for the Mandala season tonight after the traditional Harivarasanam is sung at 11 pm.

The Thiruvabharanam, weighing 420 sovereigns, was offered to the temple in 1973 by the former Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. The ceremonial adorning of the deity with this sacred gold is regarded as one of the most spiritually significant moments of the pilgrimage season.

The Sabarimala temple will reopen on December 30 evening for the annual Makara Vilakku pilgrimage. While no special rituals are scheduled on the reopening day, devotees will be permitted to have darshan. The traditional poojas and abhishekams associated with the Makara Vilakku season will begin in the early hours of December 31.

The grand Makara Vilakku festival will be observed on January 14. As part of the celebrations, the famed Erumeli Pettathullal will take place on January 11.

The sacred Thiruvabharanam procession will commence from the Pandalam Palace on January 12 and reach Sannidhanam on the evening of January 14. The ornaments will be ceremoniously received at Sharanguthi and adorned on the deity, following which the divine Makara Jyothi will be lit atop Ponnambalamedu, marking the spiritual culmination of the pilgrimage season.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman