In News:

Kerala police deploy 5,000 personnel at Sabarimala ahead of Makaravilakku festival.

Key Highlights:

• Makaravilakku is a prominent annual Hindu festival held at the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
• It marks the celestial event of the Sun entering Capricorn (Makaram Rashi) on Makara Sankranti.
• The festival is a culmination of the 41-day pilgrimage to Sabarimala, celebrated with devotion, discipline, and spiritual purification.
• Sabarimala is one of the largest pilgrimage sites globally, drawing 10-15 million devotees annually.

Location:

• The Sabarimala Temple is located on the Sabarimala hill in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, within the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• It is surrounded by 18 hills and is located along the banks of the Pamba River.

Key Rituals:

• 41-Day Pilgrimage (Vratham): Devotees observe strict practices like celibacy, fasting, and wearing black or saffron attire to purify the body and soul.
• Makaravilakku (Makara Jyothi): A celestial light appears on Makara Sankranti, believed to be a divine manifestation of Lord Ayyappa.
• Thiruvabharanam Procession: On Makaravilakku day, sacred royal ornaments (Thiruvabharanam) are carried in a procession from the Pandalam Palace to the temple.
• Aarti at Ponnambalamedu: The Makaravilakku light is believed to emanate from camphor lit during the Aarti ritual at Ponnambalamedu, viewed three times from Sabarimala.

Festival Duration:

• The Makaravilakku festival lasts for seven days, starting on Makara Sankranti and concluding with the Guruthi offering, which propitiates the gods of the wilderness.

Significance of Makaravilakku:

• The festival symbolizes the merging of celestial and spiritual energies, highlighting devotion, purity, and self-discipline.
• Devotees chant the mantra "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa," seeking blessings and protection from Lord Ayyappa.
• The event promotes equality, as all devotees wear simple black or blue attire and carry the sacred bundle, “Irumudi Kettu.”

Cultural and Religious Aspects:

• The festival is an important cultural and religious observance for millions of Hindus.
• Though previously believed to be a supernatural event, Makaravilakku now involves a ritual performed by the Malayaraya tribe, overseen by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Prohibition on Women:

• The temple traditionally restricts women aged 10-50 from entering. This was challenged in 2018 when the Supreme Court ruled to lift the prohibition, although it remains a contentious issue.