Tue Jan 14 12:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Sabarimala Makaravilakku: Over 4.2 Million Pilgrims Visit, Stricter Regulations for Makar Jyothi Darshan

**Sabarimala, Kerala:** The annual Mandala-Makaravilakku festival at the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple has concluded, drawing a record-breaking number of pilgrims. Over 42 lakh (4.2 million) devotees visited the temple during the Mandala Pooja (November 16th, 2024 – December 26th, 2024) and Makaravilakku periods. The temple, reopened for Makaravilakku celebrations on December 30th, witnessed over 1 million pilgrims in just 11 days.

The highlight of the festival, the Makar Jyothi Darshan, is scheduled for January 14th, 2025, between 6 PM and 7 PM. Anticipating a massive crowd of approximately 3 lakh (300,000) devotees, the temple authorities have implemented strict regulations. Access to the temple on January 14th will be limited to 1,000 people at a time, a significant change from the previous timings of 7 AM to 1 PM. These measures are primarily focused on ensuring the safety and security of the pilgrims.

The Mandala Pooja period culminated on December 26th with the Maha Deeparadhana and the closing ceremony, after which the temple was briefly closed before reopening for the Makaravilakku festivities. The temple will be closed again on January 20th, after a special pooja for the Pandalam royal family. The keys to the temple will then be handed over to the family, marking the official end of the festival.

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