The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple in Kerala opened its doors at 5 am on Monday as the Malayalam New Year began with the arrival of the Chingam month.
Hundreds of devotees reached the hill shrine from the early hours, with many pilgrims arriving on Sunday evening ahead of the opening.
The temple will remain open until 10 pm on August 21 for the Chingam month rituals before reopening on August 24 for the Onam-related ceremonies.
Sabarimala opens for Chingam month
The shrine had remained closed after the evening pujas on Sunday, marking the end of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.
On Sunday evening, melsanthi Prasad ED performed the final pujas of Karkidakam in the presence of tantri Kandararu Brahmadathan.
Following the rituals, the sacred fire was lit in the aazhi, the holy fire pit situated below the Pathinettam Padi, or the 18 sacred steps.
The opening of the shrine for Chingam marks an important period in the annual ritual calendar of Sabarimala.
Ukkazhakam selection to be held
Another important ritual is scheduled for Monday after the usha puja, the morning worship.
The selection of the Sabarimala ulkazhakam, who assists the melsanthi with pujas and other temple rituals, will take place after the morning ceremony.
The rituals are being conducted as devotees arrive at the shrine for the Malayalam New Year.
Devotees advised to use virtual queue
With a significant number of pilgrims expected during the Chingam opening and upcoming Onam celebrations, devotees planning to visit Sabarimala have been advised to reserve darshan slots through the virtual queue system.
The system is intended to help manage the flow of pilgrims and reduce congestion at the hill shrine during busy periods.
The latest rush also highlights the importance of planning travel and darshan in advance, particularly for devotees travelling from outside Kerala.
Extra transport services arranged for pilgrims
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has arranged additional services to support pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala.
The additional services will operate from August 16 to August 28, covering both the Chingam rituals and the upcoming Onam-related ceremonies.
The transport arrangements are expected to help accommodate the increased movement of devotees during the festival period.
Sabarimala temple dates for Chingam and Onam
The shrine will follow a brief closure between the Chingam and Onam rituals.
- August 17: Sabarimala opens for Chingam month and Malayalam New Year
- August 21: Shrine closes after Chingam rituals
- August 24: Shrine reopens for Onam pujas
- August 26: Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam
- August 28: Additional KSRTC pilgrimage services conclude
For devotees planning a Sabarimala visit, checking the virtual queue availability and transport arrangements before travelling will be important.
The Chingam opening marks the beginning of another busy pilgrimage period at Sabarimala, with the focus now shifting towards the Onam pujas and the expected increase in pilgrim footfall.
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