Sabarimala | Mandalam season drawing to a close on Wednesday
The Hindu
Amidst a continuing rush of devotees, the 41-day annual Mandalam pilgrimage season at Sabarimala in Kerala is set to draw to a close on December 27
Amidst a continuing rush of devotees, the 41-day annual Mandalam pilgrimage season at Sabarimala in Kerala is set to draw to a close on December 27 (Wednesday).
The rituals during the day were led by the chief priest (Tantri), Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu. The Mandalapuja was performed between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday. Prior to the puja, the presiding deity was adorned with the Thanka Anki, a golden attire that had been brought to the temple in a ceremonial procession.
The shrine is set to be closed by 11 p.m. on Wednesday and is scheduled to be reopened for the Makaravilakku festival on December 30.
Petta Thullal at Erumely will be held on January 12, 2024, while the customary procession carrying the Thiruvabharanam to Sabarimala will set off from Pandalam a day later. The Makaravilakku day falls on January 15 and the Ayyappa temple will be closed after the customary holy darshan permitted exclusively to the royal representative on January 21 morning.
Meanwhile, the pilgrimage zone from Nilackal to Sannidhanam continued to witness a heavy rush of devotees on Wednesday morning. The crowd, who had reached Pampa in the morning, waited up to seven hours to reach the 18 holy steps at the Sannidhanam. With the queues extending up to the Sabaripeedom, the police had a tough time regulating the crowd. The inflow, however, moderated considerably after 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday and continued without any major disruptions.
As per estimates, just over 75,000 persons visited the temple on Tuesday.
Despite measures brought in by authorities to limit the inflow of pilgrims, the Mandalam season was marked by an unprecedented rush of devotees in different cycles. The delay in clearing the backlog of devotees at the Sannidhanam had often spilled over to Pampa and the Nilackal base camp, triggering protests by irate devotees and creating traffic gridlocks.
Tiruvannamalai removes 450 metric tonnes of waste from Maha Deepam day in a two-day cleanup by 2,300 workers.
Chennai Metrowater raises tanker tariffs and removes trip caps to address rising production costs and enhance bulk water supply.
Tamil Nadu commits to enhanced collaboration with the National Green Tribunal for effective environmental governance and protection initiatives.
On Ambedkar's death anniversary, CM Rekha Gupta highlights his enduring ideals of social harmony, equality, and justice.
The Banyan launches the Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository in Chennai to preserve mental illness narratives across various formats.
MetLife Stadium will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19, with 104 matches across North America.
Former IAS officer Pradeep Sharma sentenced to five years for money laundering, causing ₹1.20 crore loss to the government.
The Dr. Mrs. YGP Centenary Annual Festival of Music and Dance launched at PSBB, celebrating classical arts and education.
CMC hosts a torch rally with 125 volunteers in Vellore to celebrate 125 years of dedicated service.
Government Women's Polytechnic in Nellore faces urgent repairs, yet funds remain unrequested due to budget constraints, risking student safety.
Author Salma and ‘Ervadi’ S. Radhakrishnan honored with Kaviko award at a ceremony in Vellore, receiving recognition and cash prize.
Mangaluru police arrest four individuals and seize half a kg of MDMA worth ₹50 lakh intended for local youth.
Uddhav Thackeray calls for appointing Leaders of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, stressing the need for constitutional compliance ahead of the Winter Session.