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The
Sabarimala Temple
festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Ayyapa who is revered by all in
India.
Sabarimala is a renowned
pilgrim centre atop the rugged hills of the Western Ghats. This holy
shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayappa. The main pilgrimage is undertaken
between November and January.
There are two main rituals called the Mandal Puja and the Makara
Sankranti Puja, which is celebrated from November to mid-January in Kerala
during which time, the devotees perform austerities and penance.
The Pilgrimage
Devotees undergo rigorous penance and austere living before starting on
the pilgrimage. Regardless of caste, creed and colour they wear black
dhoties and carry on their heads, bundles containing traditional offerings
like coconuts filled with ghee, camphor and rice.
The temple dome is covered with gold and the devotees break the coconuts
before climbing the steps.
Among the pilgrims, there are a few who are undertaking the pilgrimage
for the first time while ther are a few who have been doing so for the
past many years.
The first timers are known as 'Kanni Swamis' and the leader of the group
is known as 'Guru Swami' or the lead person of a team who is incharge of
all the rituals.
Devotees take a ritual bath while climbing up the hill in the holy river
Pamba, which absolves one's sins. En route at Erumeli, in a supreme
instance of communal harmony, they pay obeisance at the shrine of Vavar, a
Muslim deity believed to be a close ally of Lord Ayyappa.
To ease the ardour of the long trek through the forests to the temple at
the peak of the Sabari Hills, devotees constantly chant the name of the
holy one. No women in the fertility age group are allowed into the
precincts of the shrine of the Lord who is considered to be an Eternal
Bachelor.