Devotees Gather at Sabarimala Temple for Mandala-Makaravilakku Festival
Thousands of devotees have gathered at the Sabarimala Temple in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, to participate in the annual Mandala-Makaravilakku festival. The temple opened on November 15, marking the start of the pilgrimage season.
Devotees Share Their Experiences
Anand, a devotee from Mumbai, praised the improvements in transportation and infrastructure at Sabarimala. Another devotee from Tamil Nadu appreciated the online registration system, which made their pilgrimage smoother. Kaushik from Bengaluru noted the well-managed facilities and crowd control.
New Leadership at the Temple
The temple’s sanctum sanctorum was opened by the outgoing head priest, PN Mahesh Namboothiri. The new head priests, S. Arun Kumar Namboothiri and Vasudevan Namboothiri, will take charge at the Ayyappa and Malikappuram Devi temples.
Government’s Online Booking System
Kerala’s Devaswom Minister, VN Vasavan, explained the government’s decision to use an online booking system to manage the number of pilgrims. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan expressed concerns about the system, suggesting it might exclude some devotees. However, the government aims to limit daily pilgrims to 80,000 to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety.
Doubts Revealed
Sabarimala Temple -: Sabarimala Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in the state of Kerala, India. It is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the country.
Mandala-Makaravilakku Festival -: The Mandala-Makaravilakku Festival is an important religious event celebrated at the Sabarimala Temple. It involves a 41-day period of worship and rituals, attracting thousands of devotees.
Devotees -: Devotees are people who are very dedicated to their religious beliefs and practices. In this context, they are people visiting the Sabarimala Temple to worship and participate in the festival.
Pilgrimage season -: The pilgrimage season is a specific time of the year when people travel to a holy place for religious reasons. For Sabarimala, it starts in November and lasts for several weeks.
Online registration system -: An online registration system is a way for people to sign up or book their visit to the temple using the internet. This helps manage the number of visitors and avoid overcrowding.
Head priests -: Head priests are the main religious leaders at the temple who perform important rituals and ceremonies. They guide the devotees in their worship.
Devaswom Minister -: The Devaswom Minister is a government official in Kerala responsible for managing temples and religious affairs. They help ensure that temple activities run smoothly and address any concerns.