Mandala Kalam at Sabarimala

 

• Mandala kalam is celebrated in Sabarimala temple for 41 days.
• It is also known as Mandala Masam and it is the main pilgrimage of Sabarimala Temple.
• It  Begins on the first day of the ‘Vrishchikam’ Masam and ends on the eleventh day of the ‘Dhanu’ Masam as per the Malayalam calendar.
• In these days devotees from all corners of the world, throng the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
• Lord Ayyappa meditated at this place after killing the demon named ‘Mahishi’. During this period devotees observe strict austerity.
• People from any religion can visit the Sabarimala Temple as there is no discrimination of caste or creed.
• However female devotees aged between 10-50 years are prohibited from visiting the Sabarimala Temple during the Mandala Kalam period.
• The annual pilgrimage season of the famous Sabarimala Temple continues from mid-November to mid-January and comes to an end with the celebrations of ‘Makaravilakku’
• They refrain from eating non-vegetarian food, avoid sex, and wear a special ‘Rudraksha’ mala during this time.
• Those visiting the Sabarimala Temple as the Mandala Kalam Begins, wear black dhotis. These devotees also carry ‘Irumudi’ which is a cloth bundle, partitioned into two parts and containing a holy coconut with rice and ghee.
• The ‘Irumudi’ is taken for offering to Lord Ayyappa.
• As the Mandala Kalam Begins, there is also a ritual of visiting the Shri Krishna Temple as Guruvayur.

2024 Date:  November 16.