Sabarimala Temple opens for Mandala-Makaravilakku 2025-26 pilgrimage. Strict crowd control and new priestly appointments mark the season.
The Sabarimala temple in Kerala opened on November 16, 2025, at 5 PM for the annual Mandala-Makaravilakku season, which will run until January 20, 2026. In a ceremony attended by Thantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, outgoing Melshanthi Arun Kumar Namboothiri inaugurated the season by lighting the Aazhi using a sacred lamp from the sanctum. New chief priest appointments include E D Prasad for Sabarimala and M G Manu for Malikappuram.
The Travancore Devaswom Board and state government have capped daily entry at 90,000 (70,000 online, 20,000 spot bookings) to ensure safety and orderly darshan. Virtual queue systems, medicated water, biscuits, and extended facilities are in place. This year’s crowd management improvements are a response to past congestion and stampedes. The Mandala season culminates with Mandala Pooja on December 27, 2025, and is followed by the Makaravilakku celebrations through January 20, 2026.
Devotees from across the country have arrived, with groups from Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala noting improved management and virtual queue convenience. The opening coincided with major rituals at the Kalpathi Ratholsavam in Palakkad and large gatherings in Pathanamthitta. The Mandala Vratham, a 41-day spiritual preparation, is observed by pilgrims prior to the trek.
Sabarimala’s careful management balances faith, tradition, and modern safety protocols. The annual pilgrimage reaffirms Ayappa devotion’s power to unite millions in spiritual discipline.
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