Chennai: The devotees of Sabarimala temple, a holy abode of Lord Ayyappa, witnessed the auspicious Makara Jyothi by chanting hymns and prayers on Friday. The temple witnessed an increased footfall than the previous year despite the COVID-19 surge.
According to a report on Kerala Kamudi, thousands of devotees draped themselves in a black dress and carried the 'irumudi kettu' on their heads and trekked the hill. Later, they waited for several hours and got a glimpse of Lord Ayyappa and the Makara Jyothi.
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The devotees chanted 'Saranam Ayappa' when they witnessed the Makara Jyothi, a divine light by devotees, above Ponnambalamedu, a remote hilltop 8 km from the temple.
The divine lighting of the flame is done by the tribal families with the help of Kerala government, Travancore Devaswom Board and the forest department.
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On Friday, the lord was also adorned with sacred ornaments called 'Thiruvabharanam' from the Pandalam Palace, where Ayyappa is believed to have spent his childhood. Later, a 'deeparadhana' was shown to the lord. Friday also marked the beginning of the seven-day Makaravilakku festival.
A Makara Jyothi star too appeared in the sky on Makar Sankranti denoting the Sun's movement from Dhanu rasi to Makara rasi. The day also marks the first day of the Malayalam month of Makaram.
Meanwhile, the temple authority made arrangements for the devotee's stay since most of them would stay back until Kuruthi pooja is performed on the last of the festival in Sabarimala.