Description
The devotees of Lord Ayyappan / Ayappan show the strength of their devotion in various ways. One man treks the route through the jungles on stilts while others make the trek bare feet. At every rest stop along the way are reminders of the mission these pilgrims are on. These can be seen in the numerous idols and messages to Lord Ayyappan / Ayappan. Hundreds of pilgrims trek through dense jungle in rain or sunshine to the Sabarimala Temple high up on a mountain in Kerala, South India. The pilgrims dressed as Lord Ayyappan, a reincarnation of Lord Shiva / Siva, one of the three Gods in the Hindu trinity, are seen celebrating the birth of Lord Ayappan. Pilgrims wearing loin cloths / dhotis, rosaries, head-dresses and face paint in various colors, wave offerings, emulating Ayappan. The pilgrimage exudes an atmosphere of joy and devotion to Lord Ayappan. Her, the pilgrimage starts from the Petta Sree Dharmasastha Temple with a Mosque in the close vicinity. Sabarimala is located at 010 degrees/115 Kms. Similarly, from the international airport at Kochi (erstwhile Cochin) it is located at 118 degrees/106 Kms. These distances are `direct air distances or distances `as the crow flies'. The pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a singular example of a pilgrimage where pilgrims, without consideration of caste, creed, position or social status, go with one mind and one `mantra' dreaming constantly of the darshan of the presiding deity a the Holy Sannidhanam. Kerala is a land of temples; perhaps the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is Sabarimala, high up in the Sahyadri Mountains(western ghats). Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa. The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of India, but also from other parts of the country and abroad. The shrine gets thronged with devotees especially during the main pilgrim season from November to January. Mandalapooja (Nov.15th) and Makaravilakku (Jan.14th) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April). Certain customs are to be strictly observed if one has to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe austerities for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non- vegetarian habits and cardinal pleasures. Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed. The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women who have either passed their fertili