The sacred grove of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala is set for the Makaravilakku festival on Saturday.
Ayyappa devotees are camping at the Sannidhanam and the surrounding hills to worship the Makaravilakku ‘deeparadhana,’ to be performed at Ponnambalamedu. Almost all vantage points at the holy hillock have been occupied by the devotees. Pilgrims have been camping in makeshift tents at Paandithavalom, Appachimedu, Marakkoottom, Urakkuzhy, Malikappuram temple, the copra drying yard, and near the Forest Department office at the Sannidhanam for two days.
Many even prepare food in the surroundings, disregarding the ban on cooking in the forests.
