makaravilakku season
मकरविलक्कु
📅 Opens: Wednesday, 30 December 2026 · Closes: Wednesday, 20 January 2027
The Makaravilakku season culminates with the sighting of the divine Makarajyothi on Makara Sankranti — 14 January 2027. The most spiritually charged moment in Sabarimala's annual cycle.
Makaravilakku (मकरविलक्कु — 'the lamp of Makara') marks the rare moment when devotees witness three flickering Makarajyothi (the divine light) atop the Ponnambalamedu hill during the evening Deeparadhana on Makara Sankranti. Said to be the very moment Lord Ayyappa merged with the divine; the most spiritually charged date in the year.
Daily opening (Sannidhanam)
Morning
4:00 AM → 1:00 PM
Evening
3:30 PM → 10:30 PM
Crowds peak on Makara Sankranti (14 Jan). Plan for delays of 3-6 hours in the queue. Some sources advise reaching Sabarimala 24-48 hours in advance to secure a vantage point for Makarajyothi darshan.
Key dates within the season
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30 Dec 2026
Temple re-opens for Makaravilakku
Brief pause between Mandala and Makaravilakku seasons.
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13 Jan 2027
Thiruvabharanam procession begins
The sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa are carried from Pandalam Palace to Sabarimala, arriving by Makara Sankranti evening.
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14 Jan 2027
Makara Sankranti — Makarajyothi darshan
The keystone evening. Devotees see the three flashes of Makarajyothi atop Ponnambalamedu during Deeparadhana around 6:30 PM.
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20 Jan 2027
Temple closes after Makaravilakku season
The 2026-27 pilgrimage year effectively ends.
Makara Sankranti — 14 January 2027 — is the most spiritually significant evening in the Sabarimala year.
Three rituals coincide on this evening at Sabarimala:
- Thiruvabharanam Aarattu — the sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa, carried in procession from the Pandalam Palace through forest paths, arrive at Sannidhanam and are adorned on the deity.
- Deeparadhana before Lord Ayyappa — the principal evening pooja, performed around 6:30 PM.
- Makarajyothi darshan — at the same moment, three flashes of celestial light appear atop Ponnambalamedu (a hilltop visible from Sannidhanam). Said to be a sign of Lord Ayyappa’s presence.
Devotees from across India converge for this single evening. Crowd densities are extreme — plan very carefully. Many start their walk from Pampa the night before to secure a vantage point.
The exact date of Makara Sankranti follows the Indian solar calendar and is consistently 14 January each year. Verify timings on sabarimalaonline.org closer to the date.
Official source: https://sabarimalaonline.org/