SABARIMALA: Lakhs of pilgrims thronged the Lord Ayyappa temple and surrounding areas, including Pandithavalam, Malikappuram, Koprakalam, Forest IB premises and Saramkuthi, on the eve of Makaravilakku day on Friday for a glimpse of Makarajyothi on Saturday. Elaborate arrangements were made by the police and devaswom authorities well in advance for the Makarajyothi darsan. Sannidhanam and nearby areas were jampacked with pilgrims, who occupied all the available space with temporary sheds and make-shift dwelling spaces with bedsheets at Pandithavalam and Saramkuthi.
Movement of pilgrims at Sannidhanam, especially at the North Nada and Malikappuram, was slow and difficult as pilgrims had occupied even the bylanes and pathways. At Pulmedu, lakhs of pilgrims already cccupied the hill-top and eastern and southern side of the hill for Makarajyothi darsan. At Pampa Hill-Top, Chalakayam, Nilackal and Plappally too, pilgrims have occupied all the open space.
Makarasamkrama pooja The auspicious Makarasamkrama pooja will be performed by Thantri Kandararu Rajivaru in presence of Melsanthi Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri at 7.40 am on January 14. For the conduct of the Makarasamkrama pooja, the routine Usha pooja will be held at 7 am on Saturday. Reception to Thiruvabharanam procession: A devaswom team led by the Sabarimala devaswom executive officer will accord a traditional reception to the Thiruvabharanam procession at Saramkuthi at 6 pm on January 14 and lead the procession to Sopanam.
On arrival at Sopnam, a team led T D B p r e s i d e n t P r aya r Gopalakrishnan will recive the Thiruvabharanam and led to the Sreekovil. In front of the Sreekovil, Thantri Rajivaru will receive the Thiruvbharanam.