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About Makaravilakku

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About Makaravilakku

Makaravilakku is the biggest day at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in the hills of Kerala. It falls on Makaram 1, the day the Sun enters Makara, usually on 14 or 15 January, the same season as Pongal and Makar Sankranti.

Pilgrims prepare with a 41-day vow called the Mandala Vratham. They wear black or blue, eat simple food, sleep on the floor and chant "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa". They climb the hill carrying the irumudi, a two-part cloth bundle with a coconut filled with ghee for the Lord.

On the evening of Makaravilakku, the sacred ornaments of the Lord, the Thiruvabharanam, reach the temple in a procession from Pandalam. After the evening lamp worship, a light called the Makara Jyothi is seen on the Ponnambalamedu hill, and lakhs of devotees call out the Lord's name together.

The day closes the Mandala and Makaravilakku season. Ayyappa devotees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana share wishes, and many homes light lamps and pray at their own shrine.

How people celebrate Makaravilakku

  • The 41-day Mandala Vratham
  • Carrying the irumudi up the hill
  • Chanting Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
  • The Thiruvabharanam procession from Pandalam
  • Seeing the Makara Jyothi at dusk
  • Lighting lamps at home

How to wish well

  • Send wishes in the morning or before dusk on Makaravilakku day.
  • "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" is the line every devotee knows; it suits any wish.
  • This is a devotional day: blessings and prayers fit better than jokes.
  • For a friend on the pilgrimage, wish them a safe climb and a happy darshan.

Questions about Makaravilakku

When is Makaravilakku 2027?

Makaravilakku falls on Makaram 1, the day the Sun enters Makara. In 2027 it is on 15 January; see the date shown on this page.

What is Makaravilakku?

The main festival day at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala, when the Lord is adorned with the sacred ornaments and the Makara Jyothi is seen at dusk.

What is the Makara Jyothi?

A light seen on the Ponnambalamedu hill, facing the temple, after the evening lamp worship on Makaravilakku day. Devotees see it as a holy sign.

What is the Mandala Vratham?

A 41-day vow before the pilgrimage. Devotees wear black or blue, eat simple food, stay calm and pray every day.

What is the Thiruvabharanam?

The sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa, carried in a procession from Pandalam to Sabarimala and worn by the Lord on Makaravilakku.

What do you say on Makaravilakku?

Say "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" or "Happy Makaravilakku", or in Malayalam "മകരവിളക്ക് ആശംസകൾ".

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