Devotees in large numbers thronged the Lord Ayyappa temple in Kerala as the two-month long 'Mandalam- Makaravilakku' pilgrimage season began on Monday.
The festival begins on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrishcikom.
The temple for Lord Ayyappan is situated in Sabarimala, a pilgrimage centre located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Kerala.
It is believed Lord Ayyappan mediated in Sabarimala after killing the powerful demoness Mahishi.
On Monday, the head priest opened the sanctum sanctorum in the evening and lit the sacred fireplace as devotees from across the country and abroad thronged the holy place on their annual pilgrimage.
Before entering the temple, a ceremonial procession was carried out where the head priest carried the idol of deity and also golden urns of sandal paste. Then Kalabhabhishekom, ritualistic pouring of sandal paste over the Ayyappa idol, was held.
Later, holy offering were distributed among the devotees.
Now the Mandalapuja will be held on December 27, the last day of 41-day long austerity observed by devotees. The temple will be closed in the evening.
The temple will reopen on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival and the rituals will begin the next day morning.
Makaravilakku day falls on January 14 and the temple will be closed after the festival on January 20, marking the culmination of the annual festival.
Makaravilakku, also celebrated as Makar Sankranti in northern India, includes a ceremony where sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappan are carried out in a procession and a congregation is held at the hill shrine on Sabarimala.
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To ensure smooth pilgrimage season, hundreds of police personnel have been deployed around the temple complex for security and crowd management.
