There was heavy rush at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Saturday with thousands of Ayyappa devotees camping there to worship the Makarajyoti on Sunday.
The faithful have also occupied the nearby forests to witness the celestial star Makarajyoti that appears on the eastern horizon of the holy hillock and to worship the deeparadhana to be performed at Ponnambalamedu, a hillock facing the Ayyappa temple, in the twilight hours of the Makarasankranti day on Sunday.
A large number of pilgrims are camping in makeshift tents on the hills in the forest areas of Paandithavalom, Malikappuram, Urakkuzhy, Pullumedu, Uppupara, Pampa, and Attathode.
Rites performed
Temple chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu performed the rites in connection with the Bimbashdhi-kriya on Saturday.
The Tantri will perform the Makarasankramapuja at 1.47 p.m. on Sunday.
The ceremonial procession from Pandalam carrying the sacred jewellery Thiruvabharanam will reach the Sannidhanam by 6.30 p.m. on Sunday.
Travancore Devaswom Board president A.Padmakumar said the Melsanthi at Pampa Ganapati Temple would perform the rituals in connection with the Makarasankramom at Ponnambalamedu on Sunday.
The Makaravilakku deeparadhana at Ponnambalamedu would be performed soon after the deeparadhana at the Ayyappa temple around 6.40 p.m. on Sunday.
Mr. Padmakumar told The Hindu that the TDB had made all arrangements for the Makaravilakku festival.
The police, Central forces, and other government departments had taken the necessary steps for the smooth and safe conduct of the festival, he said.
Harivarasanam award
Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran will present this year’s Harivarasanam award to playback singer K.S. Chitra at the Sree Dharma Sastha Auditorium at the Sannidhanam on Sunday.
