Sabarimala Festival

The Sabarimala Festival is a Hindu pilgrimage and festival celebrated annually in the month of November-January at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, Bharat. The festival is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan, a Hindu deity who is believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini.

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Sabarimala Temple, Kerala

The Sabarimala temple is located in the Western Ghats at an altitude of about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet). The temple is accessible only by foot or by helicopter. The pilgrims who undertake the pilgrimage to Sabarimala are called Ayyappan devotees or Sabarimala pilgrims.

The Sabarimala Festival is a 41-day pilgrimage that begins on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November) and ends on the 11th day of the Malayalam month of Dhanu (January). The pilgrims who undertake the pilgrimage are required to follow a strict set of rules and regulations, which include:

• They must be celibate for the entire duration of the pilgrimage.
• They must not shave or cut their hair.
• They must not consume meat, alcohol, or tobacco.
• They must wear a black or dark blue robe.
• They must carry a rudraksha mala (rosary) and a lighted lamp.

The pilgrims who complete the pilgrimage are believed to be cleansed of their sins and to have attained moksha (liberation). The Sabarimala Festival is a major event in Kerala and attracts millions of pilgrims from all over Bharat and the world.

The festival is celebrated in two parts:

• The Mandala Puja Festival: This is the main festival and is celebrated during the months of November-December.
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  Mandala Puja Festival in Sabarimala
• The Makaravilakku Festival: This festival is celebrated on the day of Makara Sankranti (January 14). 
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  Makaravilakku Festival in Sabarimala

The festival is also a major economic event for Kerala, generating billions of dollars in revenue.

The Sabarimala Festival has been the subject of controversy in recent years due to the ban on women of menstruating age (between 10 and 50 years old) from entering the temple. The ban was lifted by the Supreme Court of India in 2018, but it has been challenged by some groups. The controversy is still ongoing.