SABARIMALA: The recent Mandalakala pilgrimage at Sabarimala concluded with the Mandala Puja ceremony held at Poonkavanam. During this auspicious event, revered rituals were performed including the chanting of Sharana mantras and the draping of Thanga Angi over the Sabarisha idol. The Mandala Puja took place yesterday morning within the auspicious time of Pisces, between 10 and 11.30 am.

Leading the ceremonies were Tantri Kantarar Mahesh Mohanar and Melshanti P N Mahesh Namboothiri. They performed sacred rites like panchapunyah to awaken the deities and mountain goddesses under the guidance of Mahesh Namboothiri's karmic power. The rituals continued with the offering of twenty-five Kalashas and Kalabhabhishekam. Subsequently, offerings were made to the shrine and sub-deities, followed by the weighing of havis to the demons. The temple was closed after Kalasha Puja and Kalabhabhishekam marking the beginning of the Mandala Puja. Devotees were then granted darshan after the evening Deeparadhan concluding with the removal of the thanga angi from the idol.

The event saw the presence of esteemed personalities including Nagaland Governor L Ganesh, Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan, Adv KU Janish Kumar MLA, Travancore Devaswom Board President P.S. Prashant, Board members Adv A. Ajikumar and G. Sundaresan, ADGP MR. Ajith Kumar, Devaswom Special Secretary M.G. Rajamanikyam, ADM Suraj Shaji, Devaswom Commissioner C.N. Raman, and Sannidhanam Special Officer K.S. Sudarshan.

Moreover, the Makaravilakku season is set to commence on January 30th at 5 pm culminating on January 21st. Makaravilakku is on January 15th. The festival will feature the Diwala with Tiruvabharan, the lighting of Makaravilakku at Ponnampalamedu and the celestial spectacle of Makarasamkrama Nakshatra in the sky. During this period, various ascensions of Dharmashasta will occur such as the ascent from the Manimandapam at Malikappuram to the 18th step from the 15th to the 18th followed by the movement to Saramkuthi on the 19th. The Valiyaguruti at Malikapuram will take place on the night of the 20th. The ceremonies will conclude on the 21st starting at 6.30 am with the darshan of the King's representative.