SABARIMALA: Preparations are complete in Sabarimala for Makarvilak festival. The Nada will open tomorrow. The authorities are trying to complete the Makaravilak festival season like the Mandalkala pilgrimage which ended without complaints. Employees of various departments including Devaswom, Police, Fire Force and Revenue and volunteers cleaned the areas from Sannidhanam to Nilakkal. Sabarimala Special Commissioner R Jayakrishnan led the work.

The number of spot booking counters at Pampa will be increased for Sabarimala pilgrims. There are seven counters at present and it will be increased to ten. A special counter will be opened only for those who have completed 60 years of age. The decision was taken at a review meeting held in Pathanamthitta under the leadership of the Devaswom Minister.

Melshanti Arun Kumar Namboothiri will open the Nada tomorrow at 5 pm in the presence of Sabarimala tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru and Kandararu Brahmadathan, and light the lamp at Srilakam. Then he will go down the 18 steps and light fire in the Aazhi below. After this the pilgrims will be allowed to go up the pathinettam padi. On the 12th at noon, the Thiruvabharanam procession will depart from Pandalam Valiyakoikkal Sri Dharmasastha Kshetram after the ceremonial functions led by the King's representative.

Makaravilakku is on the 14th. After the Nada opens at 5 pm that day, there will be Diparadhana and Makarvilak darshan at Makara Sankrama Sandhya after offering the Thiruvabharanam. Neyyabhishekam can be done till the 18th. Pilgrims can visit till 19th. Valiya Guruthy Pooja will be held at Malikappuram on the night of 19th, after Harivarasanam. The Nada will be closed on the morning of the 20th, after the darshan of the Pandalam King's representative.