: The palace town of Pandalam on the banks of the Achencoil resonates with chants of ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season.
A large number of pilgrims, especially from Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Seemandhara and Karnataka, gather at the town to worship the sacred jewellery, Thiruvabharanam, at the Srambickal Palace close to the ancient Sastha Temple there
The ornaments in pure gold, studded with jewels, are believed to have been offered to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple by the King of the erstwhile Pandalam royal kingdom who is also considered to be the foster father of Ayyappa. The Thiruvabharanam will be handed over to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) authorities on January 12 morning. It will be taken in a ceremonial procession to Sabarimala for the Makaravilakku festival on January 14.
The ritual
Custom is that the presiding deity at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple will be adorned with the Thruvabharanam prior to the Deeparadhana on Makaravilakku day.
The sacred jewellery will be kept for darshan at the Pandalam Valiyakockal Sastha Temple till 12.30 p.m. on January 12.
The jewellery will be packed in three wooden boxes, later, and taken in a customary procession to Sabarimala for the Makaravilakku festival and Makara-sankramapuja on January 14.
Makayiramnaal Keralavarma Raja will escort the procession carrying the Thiruvabharanam to Sabarimala this year, according to the palace managing committee. The procession will reach Sabarimala on January 14 afternoon.
