The renowned Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala will open today for the auspicious Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The hill shrine is set to welcome lakhs of pilgrims seeking blessings and spiritual experience. Final preparations are now underway. 

The Sabarimala temple will open this evening for the two-month-long Mandala-Makaravilakku annual pilgrimage season. The pilgrimage begins tomorrow with the start of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam. The virtual queue system is active, and spot-booking counters are all set.

Every day, 90,000 darshan slots will be available, of which 70,000 are through online booking and 20,000 through spot booking, ensuring smooth crowd management. Health, drinking water, and sanitation facilities have been strengthened along the trekking route from Pampa to Sannidhanam. Police, Devaswom staff, and volunteers are in position. Mandalapooja will be held on December 27, and the Makaravilakku festival is on January 14.