Sabarimala Hosts Makaravilakku Festival Amid Large Pilgrim Turnout and Crowd Controls

The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season at Sabarimala concluded with the Makaravilakku festival on January 14, drawing over 51 lakh devotees this season. The sacred Thiruvabharanam procession brought holy ornaments to the temple, followed by deeparadhana and the sighting of the Makara Jyothi flame atop Ponnambalamedu hill. Authorities implemented crowd control measures, including a virtual queue and traffic restrictions, amid heavy pilgrim turnout and some protests over movement curbs. Preparations involved coordinated efforts by the Travancore Devaswom Board and local police to ensure safety and smooth rituals.