On a pilgrimage to Sabarimala

• Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimagecenter located in the WesternGhats mountain ranges ofPathanamthitta District inKerala state.

• Sabarimala is believed to be theplace where the Hindu GodAyyappan meditated after killingthe powerful demon, Mahishi.

• The temple is situated here amidst18 hills.

• The temple is situated on a hilltopat an altitude of 468 m (1535 ft)above mean sea level, and issurrounded by mountains anddense forests.

• The temple is open for worshiponly during 15Nov - 25 Dec, 14 -18 Jan and on 14th April.

It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimated 50 million devotees visiting every year

• Sabarimala is linked to Hindu pilgrimage,predominantly for men of all ages.

• You can identify a Sabarimala pilgrim easilyas they wear black , blue or saffron dress.

• They do not shave till the completion ofpilgrimage and smear Vibhuti or Sandalpaste on their forehead.

• Women between the ages of 10 and 50 arenot allowed to enter the temple, since thestory attributed to Ayyappa prohibits theentry of the women in the menstrual agegroup. This is because Ayyappan isa Bramhachari(Celibate).

• The devotees are expected to follow a Vratham (41-day fasting) prior to thepilgrimage. This begins with wearing of a special Mala (a garland made of Rudraksha,Tulasi or Pearl beeds).

• In general the devotees are to refrain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco,engaging in sex, using foul language, hair-cut, shaving and even trimming the nails.Devotees are not allowed to use footwear during the fasting period

• They are expected to bath twice in a day and visit the local temples regularly and onlywear plain black or blue colored traditional clothing.

• Devotees visiting the Sabarimala Temple carry the Irumudi (a specially designed bag). Thisceremony is referred as Kettunira or Palli Kettu.

• Irumudi is the only travelling kit which a pilgrim carries on his head during the pilgrimage. Onlythose who observe fasting for 41 days are allowed to carry it. Without the Irumudi one is notallowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the Sannidhanam (temple).

• Irumudi is used to carry pooja articles and offering to be given at the temple

Devotees walking through the forest to reach the temple (Sannidhanam)

Vavarswami mosque en-route to Sabarimala.Pilgrims visit the mosque on their way toSabarimala. It is said that Vavar and Ayyappanwere close friends. The devotion of Vavaraswamito Ayyappan and the key role that the IslamicMosque has in the Ayyappa Pilgrimage, highlightsthe communal harmony .

The pilgrims settledown at the banks ofPampa river and offerfeast to fellow pilgrimsand do rituals for theirancestors.

Saramkuthi is very important pilgrim spoton the way to Sabarimala. It lies on thetraditional trekking path and is about 1 kmfrom Pampa rive. From here, a walk of 1.5km leads to the Sannidhanam(Sabarimala).

MalikapurathammaDevi Temple issituated in theNorthern Part ofSabarimala.Malikapurathamma isthe one of the mostimportant temple inSabarimala.

Appachimedu is located on the way from Pamba to Sabarimala Temple. It is one of the importantplaces that an Ayyappa devotee comes across while trekking to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.On both the sides of the path to the temple there are two deep pits. These pits are known asAppachi and Eppachi. Ayyappa devotees throw rice powder balls (Ariyunda) into the pits.

"Appam and Aravana" are the two majorforms of prasadam (blessings in the formof edible sweets) that devotees can collectfrom Sabarimala temple.

The prasadam is shared with friends andrelatives back home.