Sabarimala Temple Closes After Mandala-Makaravilakku Pilgrimage Season

The Sabarimala temple closed at 6:45 am on January 20, marking the end of the over two-month-long Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Final rituals included Ganapathi Homam, Vibhuti abhishekam, and chanting of Harivarasanam. The Thiruvabharanam return procession, led by Periyaswami Maruthuvana Sivankutty, began its journey back to the Pandalam Palace. The temple keys and money pouch were handed over to the Pandalam Royal Representative and then to temple officials, officially concluding the pilgrimage season.