Makaravilakku:Thousands of Ayyappa devotees offer prayers at

The Lord Ayyappa shrine and its premises reverberated with holy chants by thousands of devotees on Wednesday evening as the auspicious Makaravilakku ritual was held at the hilltop shrine in accordance with tradition, marking the culmination of the over two-month-long pilgrimage season.

Draped in the customary black dress and carrying the 'irumudi kettu' (the traditional bundle a devotee brings to the shrine) on their heads, pilgrims, including elders and children, trekked the forest path.

Queuing for hours without food or water to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion did not dampen the spirit of devotees who thronged the forest temple to have a glimpse of Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity.

The shrine had been decorated with flowers for the Makaravilakku festival.

The 'sannidhanam' (temple complex) atop the hillock and base camp on the banks of river Pampa reverberated with chants of "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa."