Makaravilakku at Sabarimala: the Ornaments and Makara Jyothi

What happens

1. Three days before Makaravilakku, the Thiruvabharanam, Ayyappa's sacred ornaments, leave the Valiyakoikkal temple at Pandalam in a procession. The eldest member of the Pandalam royal family hands his sword to a representative to go with it.
2. The procession walks over three days to Sabarimala, where the ornaments adorn the idol for Makaravilakku. In 2025 it left Pandalam on 12 January for Makaravilakku on 14 January.
3. At the time of the evening deeparadhana at the shrine, a flame is lit on Ponnambalamedu, a hill facing Sabarimala. This is the Makaravilakku, and pilgrims watch for it from the hillsides.
4. Kerala Tourism calls the day the culmination of the season, and witnessing the Jyothi is considered auspicious. About half a million devotees come to Sabarimala for it each year, by Wikipedia's estimate.

Sources: keralatourism.org, travancoredevaswomboard.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Where families go

• 

  Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

  Sabarimala

  The ornaments are carried up to this hill shrine for Makaravilakku, and pilgrims gather around it to see the Makara Jyothi.

  Timings and guide
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  Pandalam Valiyakoikkal Temple

  Pandalam

  The Thiruvabharanam procession to Sabarimala starts from this palace temple three days before Makaravilakku.

  Timings and guide

When to go

Makaravilakku falls on Makara Sankranti in mid-January and marks the end of the main Sabarimala season, which runs from November to January.

Sources: keralatourism.org, drikpanchang.com · checked 30 Oct 2026

Before you go

• BookingThe Travancore Devaswom Board says Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for every pilgrim to Sabarimala. Book only through the board's own channel, and never through an agent's site.
• BookingFor the 2026-27 season the Kerala High Court capped pilgrims at 75,000 a day, counted on the routes from Nilakkal to Pamba and Pamba to the shrine.
• SafetyDo not go on to the shrine if the area is overcrowded, follow the police and Devaswom officials on duty, and use only the Nadapanthal flyover on the way back.
• What to carryKerala Tourism advises that children and elders wear an identity card round the neck.
• Good to knowThe board says that from this season, vehicles without FASTag at the Nilakkal parking ground pay 25% more than the normal tariff.

• OfficialTravancore Devaswom Board, official site
• OfficialSabarimala temple calendar, Travancore Devaswom Board (Official)
• OfficialSabarimala pilgrimage season, Kerala Tourism (Official)

Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.

Sources: travancoredevaswomboard.org, verdictum.in, keralatourism.org · checked 30 Oct 2026