Makaravilakku is the day the Sun enters Makaram, and the climax of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. Through Vrischikam and Dhanu, millions of men in black or blue, carrying the two-pouched irumudi on their heads, have climbed to the forest shrine of Ayyappa after forty-one days of austerity. On this evening the sacred ornaments reach the temple, the star Makara Jyothi is seen, and a light appears three times on the hill of Ponnambalamedu.
The story
Ayyappa, born of Shiva and Vishnu in his form as Mohini, was found as an infant on the bank of the Pampa and raised by the king of Pandalam. Sent into the forest for the milk of a tigress, he killed the demoness Mahishi and came home riding one. He then withdrew to Sabarimala, a celibate yogi, and asked that his people come to see him.
The ornaments he wore as a prince, the Thiruvabharanam, are still kept at Pandalam palace. They are carried eighty kilometres on foot over three days to the shrine, and a kite is said to circle above them all the way.
സ്വാമിയേ ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ
Lord Ayyappa, you are my refuge
The chant of every pilgrim on the climb
How the pilgrimage goes
- VratamForty-one days of austerity: black clothes, a bead mala, no meat or liquor, bare feet, two baths a day. Every pilgrim addresses every other as "Swami".
- IrumudiA cloth bundle in two parts, one holding a coconut filled with ghee for the god, carried on the head.
- Pathinettam padiThe eighteen golden steps, climbed only by those carrying the irumudi.
- ThiruvabharanamThe ornaments arrive at dusk and are placed on the image for the deeparadhana.
- Makara JyothiThe star seen in the eastern sky, and the lamp shown on the far hill, are watched for by hundreds of thousands from every ridge.
Why this date
Makaravilakku is the day the Sun enters the sign of Makaram (Makara Sankranti); when that happens after sunset the observance falls on the next day. It is 14 or 15 January.
Makaravilakku in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | |
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Friday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Monday |
More Kerala festivals
25 JanuaryRatha Saptamiരഥസപ്തമി
15 FebruaryMaha Shivaratriമഹാശിവരാത്രി
20 DecemberSwargavathil Ekadasiസ്വർഗ്ഗവാതിൽ ഏകാദശി
26 MarchSri Rama Navamiശ്രീരാമനവമി
15 AprilVishuവിഷു
19 AprilAkshaya Tritiyaഅക്ഷയ തൃതീയ
Where to see Makaravilakku
In Kerala
- SabarimalaKeralaThe shrine itself, in the Periyar forest; the queue to climb the steps can take a day.
- PandalamKeralaThe palace of Ayyappa's foster family, from which the ornaments set out.
- ErumeliKeralaWhere the forest route begins, with the Petta Thullal, a dance of pilgrims daubed in colour, and a stop at Vavar's mosque.
- PullumeduKeralaA grassland in the hills from which the light is watched.
Across India
- MaduraiTamil NaduThe same day is Pongal across the border.
- GangasagarWest BengalThe great bathing fair at the mouth of the Ganga.
- AhmedabadGujaratUttarayan, the same turn of the Sun, with kites.