Sabarimala temple reopened for Makaravilakku

Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala reopened on Tuesday evening for the Makaravilakku festival season.

Melsanti ED Prasad reopened the sanctum at 5 pm accompanied by Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru. This was followed by the reopening of the Malikappuram Devi temple. Even before the ceremonial opening, a steady stream of pilgrims, especially from neighboring states, began climbing the temple via Pampa and Pullumedu.’

The temple, which was closed after the Mandalam pilgrimage season on December 27, will remain open until January 19. The Makaravilakku festival is scheduled to be held on January 14, and the shrine will close for the season on the morning of January 20.

Ahead of the reopening, the Fire and Rescue Services carried out a final round of cleaning at Sannidhanam, Pathinettam Padi, Malikappuram and Aravana toll plazas. This comes after a massive clean-up drive from Sannidhanam to Appachimedu, which was carried out by multiple departments earlier.

Security arrangements have been significantly increased with the deployment of a 1,593-strong police force under the leadership of Crime Branch Director M. Krishnan. Key mission points include sanctum sanctorum, Pathinettam Padi, Valiya Nadapanthal U-turn, Sharamkuthi, Marakoottam, Malikappuram and Pandithavalam.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has also made extensive arrangements to manage the expected increase in the flow of pilgrims during the festival period.

Meanwhile, tensions flared on the traditional forest road from Erumely on Monday evening after devotees were prevented from entering the forest and officials stated that the road would only be opened at 7am on Tuesday morning. The pilgrims, who were kept under restraint for several hours, eventually crossed the road, ignoring official instructions.

Tired of the long wait at Koikkakkavu and Azhutakkadavu, devotees bypassed the restrictions and continued their journey. Similar scenes played out in Perurthodu, another stretch of the traditional route, where protests broke out over the disruption of the pilgrimage.

Devotees had earlier blocked the Perurthodu-Irumbunnikkara road and blocked it by sitting on the road and chanting bhajans. A heated argument broke out with police before the situation was brought under control.