Sabarimala Vratham and Virtual-Q Booking, 2026-27 Season

What happens

1. The vratham starts with Malayidal, when a temple priest or a Guruswami, a devotee who has made 18 pilgrimages, puts a bead chain on the pilgrim. It stays on until the pilgrimage ends.
2. For 41 days the devotee keeps celibacy and a vegetarian diet, wears black and does not cut hair, shave or trim nails.
3. Book the Virtual-Q on the board's portal. Register, add each pilgrim with a photo and an Aadhaar or Voter ID number, and book up to five pilgrims at a time. Children under five need no booking.
4. On the eve of the journey, the irumudi is packed under a Guruswami in the Kettunirakkal. Ghee goes into a coconut for the offering, and only pilgrims carrying an irumudi may climb the 18 holy steps.
5. At the verification counter at Nilakkal or Pamba, pilgrims show the Virtual-Q coupon, printed or on a phone, with the original ID used to book, then walk up in the guided queue.

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

Where families go

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  Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

  Sabarimala

  The vratham ends here, when the pilgrim climbs the 18 holy steps with the irumudi for darshan of Ayyappa.

  Timings and guide
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  Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

  Erumeli

  Pilgrims on the traditional forest route stop here first to dance the Petta Thullal before walking on to Sabarimala.

  Timings and guide

When to go

Most pilgrims go in the 41-day Mandala season, from 1 Vrischikam in mid-November to 11 Dhanu in late December, after keeping the 41-day vratham.

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

Before you go

• BookingThe board says Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for every pilgrim. Its portal guidance says the coupons are free and that no one should be paid to secure one, so book only on the board's own portal.
• BookingFor 2026-27 the Kerala High Court limited Sabarimala to 75,000 pilgrims a day and proposed a small refundable deposit for each slot, returned when you arrive in your window.
• BookingYou can cancel a coupon up to one day before your darshan date. The board says a Virtual-Q booking does not ensure darshan.
• What to carryCarry the original photo ID entered for each pilgrim at booking. Kerala Tourism also advises that children and elders wear an identity card round the neck.
• RitualPack the irumudi without plastic. Wikipedia reports a Kerala High Court direction to that effect.

• OfficialTravancore Devaswom Board, official site
• OfficialSabarimala temple calendar, Travancore Devaswom Board (Official)
• OfficialSabarimala rituals, 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: sabarimalaonline.org, verdictum.in, keralatourism.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 30 Oct 2026