SABARIMALA: Thousands of Lord Ayyappa devotees are waiting at Ponnambalamedu with sharana mantras to see the Makara Jyothi and Makara Nakshatra that will shine today. The divine darshan will happen in the evening after the deeparadhana adoring the Tiruvabharanam on the Ayyappa idol.
Nada will open at 3 am today. Makara Sankrama Pooja is at 8.50. Ayyappa Swamy will be anointed with Ghee in Nei thenga (Ghee filled Coconut) brought from Kavadiyar Palace. The Thiruvabharan procession that left from Pandalam will reach Saramkuthy at 5.30 pm. Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, Devaswom Board President PS Prashanth and members Adv A Ajikumar and G Sundaresan will receive it at 6.15 at the foot of Kodimaram (Flag Mast). The Thiruvabharan casket reaching the Pathinettampadi will be received by Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, Kandararu Brahmadathan and Melshanthi S Arunkumar Namboothiri and taken inside the sanctum sanctorum. Deeparadhana at 6.30 after closing the nada and adoring the Tiruvabharanam. Makara Jyothi will appear in Ponnambalamedu and Makara Sankrama Nakshatra in sky after the Nada opens.
Kalamezhuthu will be held at Mani Mandapam at night: Ezhunnallathu and Nayattu Vili of Ayyappa Swami in front of the Pathinettampadi afterwards. Darshan of Ayyappaswamy wearing the Tiruvabharanam can be seen till the 17th. Neyyabhishekam will happen till 18th. Ezhunnallathu from Mani Mandapam to Saramkuthy on the 18th. Valiya Guruthy Pooja at Malikappuram on 19th at 10 pm. Devotees can have darshan till the nada closes on 19th night. Tiruvabharanam casket will start its journey back in the morning of the 20th. Then, after the darshan of thePandalam Palace representative, Ayyappaswamy will be enshrined in ashes, clothed with Yoga Danda Stick and rudraksha mala, put in yoganidra and then the nada will be closed.
Heavy security
There is an unprecedented rush in Poonkavanam for Makaravilakku darshan. Heavy security arrangements have been made by the police and various forces. Climbing on top of buildings and trees to view the Makarjyoti is strictly prohibited.