Ten-Day Annual Festival Begins At Sabarimala Temple

The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, located in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district within the Periyar Tiger Reserve and known worldwide as a major pilgrimage centre dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, opened on March 22 for its annual ten-day festival.

The main observances began the following day, with the Kodiyettu ceremony. The festival flag was hoisted between 11:30 am and 12 noon, with Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu presiding over the ritual.

What To Expect

Through the course of the festival, the Sabarimala temple follows a steady rhythm of daily rites. From March 23 to 31, the core observances will include Utsavabali, held after the afternoon puja, and Sreebhoothabali, performed following the evening Athazhapuja, forming the central part of the day-to-day ceremonial schedule.

Among the important events is the traditional Pallivetta, set for March 31. The procession will begin from the shrine and proceed towards Sharamkutthi at 8:30 pm in complete ritual silence. It will make its return journey by around 9:30 pm, lit by the flicker of theevetti torches and accompanied by the sound of temple percussion instruments.

The Return Journey

The festival comes to an end on April 1 with the Arattu ritual, the ceremonial holy bath conducted in the Pamba River. The Arattu procession is set to leave the Sannidanam at 9 am. It is expected to reach the river by around 11 am for the ritual bath.

Later in the day, the deity will be brought back to the shrine, with the return scheduled for about 6:30 pm. Deeparadhana will follow soon after. As night falls, the final rites continue with the lowering of the festival flag at 9 pm, bringing the formal conclusion to the celebrations. The temple will then close at 10 pm.

Guidelines And Entry

The Travancore Devaswom Board in Kerala has introduced a series of arrangements to manage the large number of devotees expected during the festival days. Pilgrims are being asked to make their travel plans ahead of time and adhere closely to the allotted time slots.

Daily Darshan: Entry through the virtual queue system is capped at 25,000 devotees per day. On Arattu day, this limit will be reduced further to 10,000.

Neyyabhishekam: The ghee offering ritual will be permitted only during a limited morning window between 5:30 am and 7:00 am on most days of the festival.

Pathinettam Padi: From the second to the eighth day of the festival, devotees will not be allowed to climb the sacred 18 steps after 9:00 am due to Utsavabali rituals. Access for Utsavabali darshan will reopen from 12:30 pm.

Booking: Devotees must reserve their visit slots in advance through the official portal: www.sabarimalaonline.org.

About Sabarimala Temple

The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini, an avatar of Vishnu. In tradition, the deity is also portrayed in a grihastha (householder) form, accompanied by consorts Purna and Pushkala.

Pilgrimage to the shrine is marked by a strict discipline followed by devotees, known as Ayyappans. Most undertake a 41-day penance that includes vegetarian food, celibacy, and the wearing of black or blue attire. The journey culminates with the carrying of the sacred Irumudi Kettu on the head, offered at the shrine.

A key feature of the temple is the Pathinettam Padi, the 18 holy steps leading to the sanctum. Only those carrying the Irumudi are permitted to ascend these steps.

Close to the main shrine lies Vavarunada, a space dedicated to Vavar, a companion of Lord Ayyappa. The site is widely seen as a symbol of harmony, with devotees from different communities, including Muslims, taking part in the pilgrimage.

The temple itself does not remain open throughout the year. It opens for specific occasions such as the Mandala Pooja in November–December, Makaravilakku in January, and other special days including Vishu and the first day of each Malayalam month.

FAQs

When does the Sabarimala Meenam festival begin and end?
The festival begins with the temple opening on 22 March 2026 and concludes on 1 April 2026 with the Arattu ritual and flag-lowering ceremony.

What is the Kodiyettu ceremony?
Kodiyettu marks the formal start of the festival. It involves hoisting the festival flag at the temple, signalling the beginning of the ten-day celebrations.

What are the main daily rituals during the festival?
Key daily observances include Utsavabali after the afternoon puja and Sreebhoothabali following the evening Athazhapuja, carried out from 23 to 31 March.

When is Pallivetta held?
The Pallivetta ritual takes place on 31 March and includes a procession from the shrine to Sharamkutthi and back, accompanied by traditional torches and percussion.

What is Arattu?
Arattu is the concluding ritual of the festival, where the deity is taken to the Pamba River for a ceremonial holy bath on 1 April.

Are there restrictions for darshan during the festival?
Yes. Daily darshan is limited through the virtual queue system, with caps on the number of devotees allowed each day. Entry timings for certain rituals and steps are also regulated.

How can devotees book their visit?
Pilgrims must reserve their slots in advance through the official portal: www.sabarimalaonline.org.