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Malayalam festival

Makaravilakku — മകരവിളക്ക്

makaraviḷakk

January 14–15 · Makara Sankranti, climax of the Sabarimala season

Makaravilakku crowns the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Pilgrims keep a 41-day vratham, dress in black, and climb the hill carrying the irumudi bundle on their heads. On the evening of Makara Sankranti, the Makarajyothi light is sighted on Ponnambalamedu as the sacred ornaments (Thiruvabharanam) arrive from Pandalam.

Greetings in Malayalam

  • സ്വാമിയേ ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ

    svāmiyē śaraṇamayyappā

    "Lord Ayyappa, you are my refuge"

    pilgrims' chant

Customs & traditions

  • ✦41-day vratham of abstinence before the pilgrimage
  • ✦Carrying the irumudi kettu to the temple
  • ✦Climbing the eighteen holy steps (pathinettam padi)
  • ✦Sighting the Makarajyothi

Traditional foods

  • അരവണപ്പായസം

    aravaṇappāyasaṁ

    Rich rice-jaggery-ghee prasadam of Sabarimala

  • അപ്പം

    appaṁ

    Sweet fried rice-jaggery cake, the other Sabarimala prasadam

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