Mandala Festival concludes and Sabarimala will open on 30th for Makara Vilakku festival

 
Little Ayyappans (Child pilgrims) and Malikapuram came down from the mountain with the fulfillment of seeing the Lord Ayyappa adorned with Thanka Anki. The nada was closed as usual after the Harivarsanam recital. The doors of the sanctum sanctorum are closed and the tantric and chief priest recedes to their restrooms. Only silence is left within Sabarimala for two more days. This year's Mandala-Makara Vilakku Festival at the Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple has been celebrated for 41 days. The mandala pooja ceremony was held at Kumbh Rasi between 10 am and 11.40 am under the patronage of tantric Kandararu Mahesh Mohanar and chief priest Arikara Sudhir Namboodiri. The nada will reopen on the 30th at 5 pm for the Makara Vilakku festival. Makara Jyothi is on January 15, 2020. The temple will be closed on January 21 after the Makara Vilakku festival bringing curtain to this year's pilgrimage.
The Devaswom Board said the pilgrimage so far is peaceful compared to last year. Devaswom Board said the number of pilgrims and attendance has increased over the previous year. There seemed a steady flow of devotees since the Nada opened on November 15 for the Mandala-Makara Vilakku festival. Sannidhanam and Pampa have been busy for the past three days. At some point during the rush hour, there was a restriction on the entry of Ayyappans from Pampa to Sannidhanam
The Devaswom Board has already made preparations for the Makara Vilakku Festival. Board will stock 15 lakh of Aravana in advance for the festival. Two lakh to three lakh packs of appam will be produced meet any rush situation in the coming days.
The Devaswom Board has already fixed the arrangements of the staff to be appointed during the Makara Vilakku pilgrimage. Drinking water counters will be extended to more centers. Around 60 NSS volunteers from the Sasthamcotta Devaswom Board College have expressed their willingness to do service during the Makara Vilakku festival.