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Pilgrimage

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple opens for Makaravilakku festival.

RADHAKRISHNAN KUTTOOR || THE HINDU 

Melasanthi, G.Vishnu Namboodiri, springling holy water (theerthom) atthe sopanam of Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala before opening the sanctum sanctorum for the Makaravilakku festival on Wednesdayafternoon
The HinduMelasanthi, G.Vishnu Namboodiri, springling holy water (theerthom) at the sopanam of Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala before opening the sanctum sanctorum for the Makaravilakku festival on Wednesday afternoon.
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The holy hillock of Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush when the Lord Ayyappa Temple was reopened for the annual Makaravilakku festival on Wednesday afternoon.

The Melsanthi, G.Vishnu Namboodiri, opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 pm in the presence of the Tantri, Kandararu Maheswararu, Devaswom Executive Officer, V.S.Jayakumar and other TDB officials.

Hundreds of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and from different parts of the State have been camping at Pampa and Nilackal since the past three days, awaiting the temple reopening.

Pilgrims were permitted to climb the Neelimala only on Wednesday morning.

However, police blocked the pilgrims for a few hours in the afternoon, due to the heavy rush, with a view to ease human pressure at the holy hillock.

Neyyabhishekom

The rituals will begin with the Tantri performing Ganapati homom on Thursday morning followed by Ashtabhishekom and Neyyabhishekom.

Erumely Petta-thullal

The customary Petta-thullal at Erumely by the Ambalappuzha and Alangadu teams will be held on January 11.

The ceremonial procession carrying the Thiruvabharanam, sacred jewellery, for the Makaravilakku festival will set off to Sabarimala from the Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sastha Temple on January 12.

The customary Pampa-Vilakku and Pampa-Sadya will be held on the banks of river Pampa on the foothills on January 13.

Makara-jyoti

The Makaravilakku day falls on January 14. The Ayyappa idol will be adorned with the Thiruvabharanam prior to the deeparadhana the same afternoon.

Sighting of the celestial star, Makara, on the eastern horizon of the Sannidhanam and a bright flame, `Makara-jyoti’, that usually flickers thrice on a remote hillside facing the Ayyappa Temple will take place immediately after the deeparadhana.

Tens of thousands of Ayyappa devotees used to throng the pilgrim centre to witness the Makara-jyoti, which, they consider the most auspicious event at Sabarimala.

Kalabhabhishekom and Guruti

The Kalabhabhishekom, marking the culmination of the Neyyabhishekom offering to the presiding deity during the Makaravilakku festival will be performed prior to the Utchapuja on January 18.

The annual Guruti ritual to propitiate the cohorts (Bhoothagana) of Lord Ayyappa will be performed at Malikappuram on January 19 evening.

The Ayyappa shrine will be closed immediately after the exclusive customary holy darshan by the representative of the Pandalam Palace at 7 am on January 20.

Thousands worship Makaraajyoti, Makaravilakku.

RADHAKRISHNAN KUTTOOR || PATHANAMTHITTA, January 15, 2012.

Thousands of devotees worshipped the Makarajyoti, a lone bright star that appeared in the sky just above the Ayyappa Temple complex at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, and the ritualistic deeparadhana held at Ponnambalamedu, a remote hill in the forests facing the Ayyappa shrine, as part of the annual Makaravilakku festival on Sunday evening.

The sacred jewellery, Thiruvabharanam, brought from the Pandalam palace in a customary ceremonial procession reached the Sannidhanam by 6.32 pm. Devaswom Minister, V.S. Sivakumar, Travancore Devaswom Board president, M. Rajagopalan, Nair and other TDB authorities received the sacred attire at the temple premises.

The Guruswami who carried the wooden jewellery box took it to the temple sopanam and handed it over to the chief priest (Tantri). The Tantri, Kandararu Maheswararu, assisted by Melsanthi, N. Balamurali, took the Thiruvabharanam to the sanctum sanctorum and the Ayyappa idol was adorned with the sacred jewellery prior to the deeparadhana performed at the temple at 6.42 pm.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Ayyappa devotees were patiently waiting at the temple premises with folded hands, awaiting the sighting of Makaravilakku, a bright flame, as part of the ritualistic deeparadhana held atop Ponnambalamedu immediately after the deeparadhana performed at the Ayyappa shrine.

The entire Sannidhanam was charged with devotion as ‘Swami Saranam’ mantra rented the air. Devotees were taken to some sort of a divine ecstasy with the sighting of Makaravilakku atop Ponnambalamedu around 6.42 pm.

Drop in pilgrim turn out

There was a marked decline felt in the pilgrim turn out for this year’s Makaravilakku festival owing to various reasons that include the Mullapperiyar imbroglio and the painful memories of last year’s stampede tragedy at Pulmedu.

The State Government’s failure to provide transport facility for the pilgrims to Pulmedu has literally stopped the flow of pilgrims to this hitherto popular Makarajyoti viewing point in the forests, this year.

According to reports received here at 8 pm, hardly a 1,000 devotees were

Still the Sannidhanam and surrounding forest areas witnessed heavy rush of devotees for the Makaravilakku festival on Sunday. This time, the number of present at Pulmedu to worship the Jyoti.

pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka appeared to have been higher than those from Tamil Nadu reportedly owing to the rumours spreading there in connection with the Mullapperiyar agitation.

Supreme Court Judge, Arijit Pasayath; Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi; Malayalam-Tamil actor, Jayaram and K. Jayakumar, Additional Chief Secretary, were among those attended the annual festival.

Additional Director General of Police, P. Chandrashekharan, told The Hinduthat no untoward incident hhas been reported from any par of Sabarimala or its base camps.

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Rathotsavam at Thiruvidaimaruthur on 19-01-2011

Sivaya Namaha.   Namaskarams.
With the Grace and Blessings of both Gurus and Iswara, the Chariot – Festival [Rathotsavam] of  Sri Mahalingaswami  was conducted at Thiruvidaimaruthur on Wednesday, the 19th January, 2011 with aesthetic grandeur and devotion.

Thousands of people gathered at the Main Ratha Manatapam on the East Car Street around 10-00 A.M. and after Puja, started pulling the New Big and Magnificent Chariot amidst loud chants of  ‘Madhyarjunesvara’  ‘Mahalinga’ .
The Chariot, which started its first Yatra with Lord Sri Mahalingaswami’s Utsava-Murthi on its top,  majestically passed through the four Ratha-Veedhis  [the four car streets], and  reached its destination  [i.e. the starting point], around 10-15 P.M.
En route, hundreds of people were waiting with Flowers and Fruits for offering to the Lord, who was riding a brand new chariot after a gap of 77 long years. Among the Devotees, there were at least half a dozen Octogenarians, who had last seen the old big Ratha passing through their street in the year 1933.  None of them attempted to wipe the tears of joy from their eyes.  They were overwhelmed and could barely convey their Pranams and Thanks to Pujyasri Swamiji, who, with unsurpassable grace, could fulfill their dream of seeing their Beloved Lord on a Magnificent New Chariot!With the benevolent consent of the 23rd GuruMahaSannidhanam of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, the construction of the Main big chariot was undertaken and completed as planned and it is proposed to start the work on the other four

May the Almighty Lord Bless you with the opportunity and strength to
participate in this Sacred Culture Reviving Project which aims at preservation of our rich Spiritual Traditions!

Please open the attachments to see the photos of the Maiden Ratha Yatra.

With warm regards and best wishes,
K.Rajagopal.
Trustee & Treasurer.Chariots shortly.

GANGASAGAR MELA  14th-15th January 2011


3 comments on “Pilgrimage

  1. Shawak Rathore
    July 16, 2011

    I am advocate Hindu live in Sindh Pak. I want to visit religious places in India with other Hindu yatries for getting religious knowledge and shikshiya dhikshiya, to perform havan katha yagiya and Hindu religious customs. Pls help me for getting Hindu yatra visa to India.

    Like

  2. Sanjoy Chakraborty Prem
    September 25, 2011

    Share with me..

    Regards.

    Sanjoy Chakraborty Prem
    http://www.facebook.com/sanjay1cha

    Like

  3. Yoglica
    August 24, 2022

    Makaravilakku happens once a year and very much crowded. I have been there few times. Awesome place to visit.

    Like

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