Makara Jayanti celebrated

Lakhs of pilgrims from various parts of India flocked at Sabarimala and millions of Lord Ayyappa’s devotees watched live television coverage to celebrate Makara Jayanti (Makra Vilakku) on Friday evening.

As the first flicker of the Jyothi was sighted at 18.44 hrs at Ponnambala Medu at Sabarimala, the chanting of Ayyappa mantras reached its zenith.

After the sighting of the Jyothi, hordes of pilgrims chanting and crying out ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ rushed to have the darshan of the deity, Lord Ayyappa, adorned with the Thiruvabharanam (holy golden ornaments) at the Sannidhanam, the sanctum sanctorum, of the hill shrine.

After the sighting of the Jyothi, hordes of pilgrims chanting and crying out ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ rushed to have the darshan of the deity, Lord Ayyappa, adorned with the Thiruvabharanam (holy golden ornaments) at the Sannidhanam, the sanctum sanctorum, of the hill shrine.

Travancore Devaswom Board authorities said the hills shrine had been witnessing the largest number of pilgrims in history for the last few days.