Heavy rush in Sabarimala to witness “Makaravilakku”

SABARIMALA: The sacred hill of Sabarimala is witnessing heavy rush of pilgrims as the Lord Ayyappa Temple is all set to celebrate the “Makaravilakku” on Sunday.

The auspicious “Makara Samkrama Pooja” is scheduled to be held at 06.00 p.m. to 08.00 p.m.. The “Samkrama Pooja” will be followed by “Samkramabhishekam”.

Both the rituals coincide with the ushering in of “Utharayanam”, when the sun changes its position from “Dhanu Rasi” to “Makaram Rasi”.

The special ghee brought by a messenger from Kavadiyar Palace will be used for the “Abhishekam”. “Samkrama Pooja” and the “Abhishekam” will be performed by Tantri Kantararu Rajeevaru.

Later, after adorning the Ayyappa idol with “Thiruvabharanam”, the “Deeparachana” will be held.

Synchronising with the “Deeparadhana”, “Makara Jyothi” will appear at “Ponnambala Medu” and the bright star “Makara” will appear on the eastern horizon.

The “Thiruvabharanam” procession will be accorded a rousing reception by the Travancore Devaswom Board officials at Saramkuthy on the traditional trekking path from Pampa to Sannidhanam.

When the procession reaches Sannidhanam, the Devaswom authorities will hand over the “Thiruvabharanam” to Tantri Kantararu Rajeevaru and Melsanthi E Eswaran Nampoothiri, who will adorn the idol with “Thiruvabharanam” prior to “Deeparadhana”.

The hill-shrine will be closed on January 20 morning.