Makaravilakku Festival Celebration In 2024

Makaravilakku is an annual religious festival conducted in the Sabarimala Temple of Kerala. It is celebrated on the first day of the month of Makara Masam as per Malayalam Calendar. It is also the day Makara Sankranti is celebrated in other parts of India. On this day, devotees from all over India come to Sabarimalai’s Ayyappa Swamy Temple to witness the Makara Jyoti and the Makaravilakku. In this festival, this is the most important event.

When is Makaravilakku celebrated in 2024?

Ayyappa Swami or Lord Ayyappa, is the son of the female form of Lord Vishnu, Mohini and Lord Shiva. His temple is a famous pilgrimage site, and the preparation for this festival starts from (November- December) or the Vrichikam Masa of the Malayalam calendar. Devotees observe 41 days of fast and austerities and visit the Sabarimala temple for this festival, also called Mandala Pooja which is said to end on the Makaravilakku day. Witnessing this is believed to be very auspicious and is said to fulfil the devotee's wishes. Devotees look forward to this day of the year. The darshan of the Makaravilakku can be done from 9 places, which are Attathodu, Chalakayam, Neelimala, Hilltop, Sannidhanam, Saramkuthi, Paandithavalam, Marakootam and Pulmedu. This year, it is celebrated on Saturday, January 14, 2024.

 Significance And Importance Of Makaravilakku

This is a festival that has been celebrated since ancient times in Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. It is an annual festival celebrated by not just the people of Kerala but many other Southern Indian states too. The primary reason to visit this temple is to witness the Makara Jyoti and the Makaravilakku in the evening. A bright star (Makara Jyoti) occurs in the evening in the east direction of Sabarimala above Ponnambalamedu. The Makaravilakku is a light that occurs in the Ponnambalamedu forest of Sabarimala. Devotees come to the temple early morning from Pampa and observe a fast throughout the day.

Lord Ayyappa’s gold ornaments, called the Thiruvabharanam, are brought out from the Pandalam palace to the temple. The Royals of Pandalam are the custodians of these ornaments. It has been observed over the years that an Eagle hovers around the Thiruvabharanam during the entire journey from the palace to the temple. The Eagle is the vehicle (Garuda Vahana) of Lord Vishnu. On reaching the temple, he circles the premises nine times and pays his respects to the Lord. The ornaments are then adorned and are followed by Deeparadhana. At a specific time, the Makara Jyoti is seen, which marks the start of the Makaravilakku festival, which is a 7-day affair. Apart from the sighting of the sacred light, this festival is also Makara Sankranti day, when the sun starts its journey and moves from Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makar (Capricorn). On this auspicious day, Lord Surya is worshipped and thanked for helping in growing crops.

 

Makaravilaaku Rituals

Before the start of this festival and the visit to the Sabarimala temple, devotees follow Mandala Kalam, a Makaravilakku Vidhi. This starts from the first day of Vrichika Masam and is compulsory for those who want to make a pilgrimage to the Sabarimala temple. Girls from 1 to 9 years and ladies over 50 are allowed to visit the temple.

•  41 days of austerity and Vrat has to be performed. It includes not having food during the day and abstaining from non-vegetarian food. The intention is to cleanse the soul, mind, and body.
•  Those who want to visit the temple for Makaravilakku have to wear a Mala (necklace) with a Lord Ayyappa locket. This is taken off only after sighting the Makaravilakku.
• Smoking, alcohol consumption and gambling are prohibited. Celibacy needs to be observed for 41 days.
• Devotees should give up worldly pleasures and luxuries and meditate and pray. They should sleep on the floor and walk barefoot.
•  Men should not trim their hair or shave their moustache or beard.
• Those who follow the Makaravilakku ritual should wear black, saffron or deep blue clothes until the day of the Makaravilakku celebrations.
•  During this time, devotees should lead a conscious and pious life and not hurt people or living beings. The devotees should carry Irumudi on their heads,, a cloth bundle separated into two. 
• This should have rice, ghee and coconut, which must be offered to the Swami when they see the Makaravilakku.
• Devotees have to walk from Pampa after performing Pooja in the Ganapathi Temple. They have to then walk to the Sabarimala temple barefoot. The trek is rough and passes through hills and forests. Vehicular traffic is banned beyond Pampa.
•  The 41 days of austerities and fasting end after the Makaravilakku. After this, the rituals include going to the Guruvayur Krishna Temple.

Overall, the Makaravilakku festival is celebrated in a very grand way, and it is considered auspicious to witness this in person.