Synopsis: The Mandala Puja will be held on 27 December. After this, the temple will reopen for the Makaravilakku season on the evening of 30 December. The Makaravilakku ritual itself is scheduled for 14 January 2026, and devotees will be allowed darshan until 19 January 2026. Finally, the shrine will close on the morning of 20 January 2026.

The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple opened on Sunday, 16 November, heralding the start of the two-month Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

The sanctum was opened at 5 pm by outgoing Melsanthi Arun Kumar Namboothiri, in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu. The Upadevata shrines were opened subsequently and the sacred fire was transferred to the Aazhi in a traditional ceremony attended by Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar.

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