The hills of the Western Ghats are again shrouded in a hue of black and saffron with the start of the Makaravilakku festival at the hill shrine of Sabarimala in Kerala according to legend. This annual ceremony, which marks the culmination of the two-month-long pilgrimage season, is not just a religious observance but an out-of-the-world expression of faith that binds several millions pilgrims in to one chain chanting “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa“. When the sun transits into Capricorn (Makaram) and enters into the zodiac circle, the temple is suffused with a kind of energy that has been described as other-worldly by many. This is the ultimate spiritual bling for pilgrims who have endured 41 days of rigorous penance.
The Journey of the Thiruvabharanam
The release of Thiruvabharanam, the gold ornaments for the Lord Ayyappa is one of most soul-searching moments in Makaravilakku celebrations. Bordered with history and myth, these jewels are brought in a ceremonial procession from the Pandalam Palace—the ancestral home of the deity.
The processional is an arduous three-day walk of nearly 80 kilometers through brutal forest terrain. Loaded in three wooden boxes, on the heads of bearers led by members of Pandalam royal family. According to legend, a Brahminy kite circled the chariot throughout the journey and served as a divine guard to the procession.
As the jewels would eventually arrive at the Sannidhanam (the sanctum) there would be thunderous sound of “Pancha Vadyam” and hysterical outburst by thousands of devotees. And it is with these ornaments that the deity is decked for the Deeparadhana, when Kukteswara flickers like a star in its glory on real heavenly altitudes.
Religious Profession Jubilees Celebrated at Amravati Cathedral
Phenomenon of Makara Jyothi and makara Vilakku
As the evening twilight descends over Pathanamthitta district, all eyes focus on the eastern horizon. The pinnacle of the ooostavam, is the sacred aazhippu (visible from in front of and to the right side of Swami Ayyappan’s grave as you enter) followed by Makara Jyothi, an auspicious event that takes place three times every evening after Deeparadhana.
However, the ceremonial lighting of a lamp -that makes the temple authorities and tribal representatives perform at each opening of doors – has far more spiritual significance. To the tens of thousands who clog the rooftops and hilltops, it is also a symbol of Lord Ayyappa himself. It is the “Great Sound” that all seekers endeavor to liberate through discipline and devotion.
Makar Sankranti significance history and celebration rituals
Signature Rituals During the Makaravilakku Season are as Follows:
- Makara Sankrama Pooja: A prayer done the moment when the sun enters to Makaram zodiac sign.
- Deeparadhana: The great evening puja during which the idol is dressed in its full regaly.
- Malikappurathu Amma Procession -A procession where elephant adorned with decorative accessories is taken in a circumambulation as a replica of divination between the deities.
- Guruthi Pooja: The closing ceremony to calm the spirits of the forest and gods of the mountains, completing the festival.
Spirituality in Discipline: The 41-Day Vrat
Makaravilakku is the end of the Mandala kalam, a 41 day period of strict Vratham (Austerity). The pilgrims, who are all called Ayyappas, strictly adhere to certain guidelines as they strive to purify the mind and body. This entails wearing black or blue clothing, walking shoeless, eating plain vegetarian fare and remaining celibate.
The renunciation in this time is for the breaking of the ego. When the pilgrim sets foot on the 18 sacred gold-plated steps (Pathinettampadi) of the temple, they are apprised that there is no distinction between seeker and sought—indeed, it is a philosophy articulated in the shrine’s mahavakya: “Tat Tvam Asi” (Thou Art That).
Taming the Great Surge of Faith
Crowds at the shrine have been breaking records in 2018. It has hosted more than 5 million devotees this season and collected a revenue of more than ₹429 crore. The Kerala government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) have put in place tight crowd management arrangements to make it incident-free, including a virtual queue system and improved medical facilities.
Theological, religious and even practical challenges aside, the pilgrimage spirit is as timeless in essence as ever. From eating in common at the Annadanam halls to chanting together that swells among the trees, Sabarimala is still a sanctum where social hierarchies disappear. Here, a billionaire and a day laborer stand side by side, both barefoot, in the eyes of the Lord.
The Legacy of the Hill Shrine
The Makaravilakku festival is not just a feat of light but also an example of Kerala’s strong social structure. It commemorates the legend of Manikandan, a prince of Pandalam who accepted a life of meditation and abstinence in the forest for the purpose of protecting the moral values against asuras.
As the temple is ready to close after the last Guruthi, what gets brought back besides holy Aravana Payasam (sweet rice) are loads and loads of memories. They come back with a newly found peace and calm, but also an inner fire to light their way throughout the next year. The “wonderful gesture” of the hills seeming to light up for its people stands as one of the most powerful symbols of hope in the modern world.
