Archive · 21 Dec 2025
Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala on December 27
The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple is preparing for the Mandala Pooja on December 27.
A special golden attire, called the golden anki, will be brought to the temple in a big procession starting from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple on December 23.
The temple will close on the night of December 27 after the pooja and will reopen on December 30 for the Makara Vilakku festival.
The temple is also serving free traditional Kerala meals to pilgrims, which started on December 23.
These meals include many delicious dishes and are served on steel plates.
Around 5,000 people eat these meals every day.
The Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple is scheduled for December 27 between 10:10 AM and 11:30 AM.
The golden anki will be brought to the temple in a procession starting from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple on December 23 at 7 AM.
The golden anki is expected to reach Sabarimala before the deeparadhana on the evening of December 26.
The temple will close at 11 PM on December 27 and reopen at 5 PM on December 30 for the Makara Vilakku festival.
The temple has started serving free traditional Kerala meals (sadya) to pilgrims, with around 5,000 people participating daily.
- Who
- Devotees and temple officials at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple
- What
- Mandala Pooja and related ceremonies
- When
- December 27, 2023, with preparatory events starting December 23
- Where
- Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, Kerala
- Why
- To perform the annual Mandala Pooja and associated rituals
- Event
- Mandala Pooja
- Date
- December 27
- Time
- 10:10 AM to 11:30 AM
- Golden Anki Procession Start
- December 23 at 7 AM from Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
- Golden Anki Arrival
- December 26 evening before deeparadhana
- Temple Closing Time
- 11 PM on December 27
- Temple Reopening
- 5 PM on December 30 for Makara Vilakku festival
- Free Meal Service
- Started on December 23
- Daily Meal Participants
- Around 5,000 pilgrims