Today is Makaravilakku – January 14, 2013 – Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Makara Jyothi

Makaravilaku – Makara Jyothi the most important and the last festival in the two-month Mandala Pooja – Makaravilakku Kalam at the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. In 2013, the date of Sabarimala Makaravilakku and Makarajyothi Festival is January 14. Legend has it that after defeating demon Mahishasura, Ayyappa merged with the Dharma Shastha idol on the Makarajyothi day.

In 2013, the Sankramana puja will take place when the transition of Sun will be taking place as per Malayalam panchangam and astrology. This is the time when Dakshinayana ends and Uttarayana begins.

The evening deeparadhana is the most important event on the day. On the day for deeparadhana, Lord Ayyappa appears before the devotees fully attired in the Thiruvaabharanam – gold ornaments – which is specially brought from the Pandalam Palace.

Before the evening deeparadhana, an eagle hovers over the Sabarimala Temple. Next the Makara Star appears on the sky – Makarajyothi is the star that appears on the sky on the day in the evening. Next is the appearance of Makaravilakku – it is the light that appears three times in the distant hill at Ponnambala Medu.

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