Makaravilakku

Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makara Sankranti in Kerala, India at the shrine of Sabarimala. The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappan) procession and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala. An estimated half a million devotees flow to Sabarimala every year to have a darshan (vision) of this ritual this day.

For the 1980 Indian Malayalam film, see Makara Vilakku (film).

Makaravilaku appears in Ponnambalamedu
Devotees gather at Sabrimala sannidhanam to get glimpse of divya Makara Jyothi.

Agents behind the Makaravilakku

Makaravilakku is a part of a religious ritual that was practiced since the past by the Malayaraya tribe who are believed to be the descendants of Malayaman Kaari in the forest of Ponnambalamedu (the place where Makaravilakku appears) and then later secretly continued by The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).[1] It has been practiced for more than hundreds of years by the tribes and no supernatural elements are associated with it.[2][3] The name refers to the lighting of a bright "vilakku" (lamp) three times atop Ponnambalamedu.[4]

References
  1. "Nothing celestial about Sabarimala's divine flame; it's man-made - Firstpost". 16 January 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. "Makarajyothi is man-made, aver leaders". The Hindu. 21 January 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  3. Special Correspondent (24 January 2011). "Makarajyothi is a star: senior Thantri". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  4. "The light on Markarsamkarama day an 'aarti'". Zee News India. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
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