Tue Jan 14 12:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Record Crowds Witness Spectacular Makaravilakku Festival at Sabarimala
**Pathanamthitta, Kerala, January 14, 2025** – The annual Makaravilakku festival at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple culminated Tuesday evening with a spectacular display witnessed by an unprecedented number of devotees. Thousands braved massive crowds to witness the celestial Makarajyoti and the deeparadhana ceremony atop Ponnambalamedu. The bright flame of the Makaravilakku was sighted three times, sparking fervent devotion among the pilgrims.
The pilgrimage zone was overflowing for days leading up to the event, with devotees occupying every vantage point across the hills and forests surrounding the temple. The sacred jewels were ceremonially presented to the temple authorities, a ritual attended by dignitaries including state ministers.
Authorities implemented extensive measures to manage the massive influx of pilgrims, estimated to exceed 50 lakh by the end of the pilgrimage season on January 19th. This included opening additional parking areas, deploying 800 KSRTC buses, and mobilizing 5,000 police officers across multiple districts to ensure smooth crowd management and traffic control. Strict traffic regulations were enforced throughout the pilgrimage route.
The majority of pilgrims hailed from neighboring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The Makarasankrama puja was performed earlier in the day, marking another significant event in the annual pilgrimage. The Guruti ritual at Malikappuram on January 19th will conclude this year’s pilgrimage season.
First Piper 