Makara Jyothi 2025: Significance, Rituals, and Spiritual Journey of Sabarimala Makaravilakku

 

Makara Jyothi 2025: A Divine Journey to Sabarimala

The Sabarimala Makaravilakku Festival is an extraordinary spiritual event celebrated with immense devotion at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala, India. Scheduled for January 14, 2025, this sacred occasion marks the sighting of the Makara Jyothi, a celestial light revered as a divine blessing by millions of pilgrims.

What is Makara Jyothi?

Makara Jyothi, translated as the "Light of Capricorn," is a celestial event observed during Makara Sankranti, signifying the Sun’s transition into Makaram Rasi (Capricorn). The phenomenon is deeply spiritual and signifies the culmination of the 41-day Mandala Pooja season.

Devotees eagerly await the appearance of the Makarajyothi Anduthram star in the evening sky above Ponnambalamedu, accompanied by the sacred Thiruvaabharanam procession adorning Lord Ayyappa Swamy.

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Legends and Mythology Behind Makara Jyothi

Makara Jyothi is surrounded by divine tales that amplify its spiritual significance:

1. The Encounter of Lord Rama and Sabari:
   It is believed that Lord Rama met Sabari, a devoted ascetic, at Sabarimala. After receiving her offerings, Lord Rama witnessed the penance of Lord Dharmasasta (Sasta), marking this location as sacred.

2. The Aarathi of the Devas:
   According to tradition, the Makara Jyothi symbolizes the aarathi (lamp-lighting ceremony) performed by celestial beings to honor Lord Manikantan, an incarnation of Sasta, as he revealed his divine form.

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Sacred Rituals on Makaravilakku Day

• Makarasamkramam: This celestial transition of the Sun into Capricorn is marked with special prayers at the Sabarimala Temple.
• Thiruvaabharanam Procession: The divine ornaments, carried from the Pandalam Palace, are ceremoniously placed on the deity of Lord Ayyappa.
• Deeparadhana: At dusk, a Brahminy kite hovering over the temple signals the start of the lamp-lighting ritual, after which the Makara Jyothi appears in the sky.
• Makara Jyothi Darshan: Devotees bow in reverence as they witness this divine light, considered a blessing from Lord Ayyappa.

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The Pilgrimage: A Journey of Faith

Pilgrims undergo a 41-day vratham (austerity) involving strict discipline and devotion. They wear black or blue attire, walk barefoot, and carry the Irumudi Kettu (sacred bundle) as they navigate forest paths and ascend the Pathinettampadi (18 sacred steps).

Chanting “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa,” they immerse themselves in an unparalleled spiritual journey, culminating in the darshan of Lord Ayyappa and the sighting of Makara Jyothi.

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Makara Jyothi 2025 Timings

• Makarasamkramam: 6:44 PM IST
• Deeparadhana and Makara Jyothi Darshan: Shortly after.

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The Spiritual Significance of Makara Jyothi

For devotees, Makara Jyothi is more than a celestial event—it’s a moment of divine connection. Witnessing the light is believed to bring prosperity, spiritual growth, and blessings from Lord Ayyappa.

The festival is also a celebration of faith, perseverance, and the unity of devotees from diverse backgrounds, united by their devotion to Lord Ayyappa.

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Keywords:

Makara Jyothi 2025, Sabarimala Makaravilakku, Makara Sankranti rituals, Makara Jyothi significance, Thiruvaabharanam procession, Mandala Pooja, Pathinettampadi steps, Sabarimala pilgrimage, Lord Ayyappa Swamy, Makara Samkramam

Makara Jyothi 2018 – Sabarimala Makaravilakku Festival on 14 January 2018

Makara Jyoti (Light of Capricorn) – Sabarimala Makaravilakku Festival on 14th January 2018 – Millions of pilgrims are expected to witness the famous Sabarimala Makaravilakku at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala, India.

Makaravilaku – Makara Jyothi marks the end of the Sabarimala Mandala Pooja pilgrimage season. According to the traditional Malayalam panchangam and Vedic astrology, the Makaravilakku pooja will take place at 6:44 PM in the evening.

Sabarimala pilgrims will be able to witness the Makarajyothi Anduthram star at the Ponnambalamedu and the Thiruvabharanam (traditional antique gold ornaments brought from the Pandalam Palace) adorned Lord Ayyappa Swamy.

Sabarimala Makarasamkramam (Makara Samkramam) is the time when Lord Surya (the Sun God) moves from Dhanu Rasi to Makaram Rasi. Makarasamkrama Pooja is at Sabarimala temple during this time. Pilgrims will be allowed to climb the Pathinettampadi (the holy 18 steps) after Ucha Pooja. Devotees can witness the most important evening Deeparadhana and Makara Jyothi Darshan. The most interesting feature of deeparadhana is that the Brahminy kite (eagle) is hovers over the Sabarimala Temple indicating to start the auspicious evening deeparadhana on Makaravilakku day. After the deeparadhana, the Makarajyothi star will appear on the sky. Makara Jyothi is worshiped as a part of ritual in Sabarimala Temple on Makara Sankranti on 14 January every year. Devout Hindus believe that the jyothi is a celestial phenomenon and its sighting is auspicious and brings good luck and blessings.

It is said that Lord Sri Rama and his brother Lakshmana met Sabari, an urban devotee, at Sabarimala. Sabari offered the Lord fruits after tasting them. But the Lord accepted them gladly and whole-heartedly. The Lord then turned and saw a divine person doing tapas. He asked Sabari who it was. Sabari said it was Sasta. Rama walked towards Sasta and the latter stood up to welcome the Prince of Ayodhya. The anniversary of this incident is celebrated on Makara Vilakku day. It is believed that on Makara Vilakku day, Lord Dharmasasta stops his tapas to bless his devotees.

Another popular mythical belief is that the Makara Vilakku is lit there in commemoration of the aarathi performed by Dev rishis and Devas at the time of revelation of His Divine form (Roopa) by Manikantan (an incarnation of Sasta). This event marks the culmination of the long and arduous pilgrimage to Sabarimala shrine. The light disappears in the evening after the Thiruvaabharanam (divine ornaments) are brought into the sanctum sanctorum and are placed on the Lord. The most significant rituals of worship are performed at the day of Makara Sankaranthi.

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Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Opening & Closing Dates 2017-2018

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage center in southern Indian state of Kerala.

The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala is open for darshan only during certain specific periods in a year.

If you are devotee of Lord Ayyappa, then i am sure you might be searching for Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Opening and Closing Dates and Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Festival Calendar for the year 2016 / 2017.

Below are the dates on which the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple will remain open during the year 2016 for festivals and monthly pooja’s.

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Opening & Closing Dates (2016 – 2017) :

Month	Pooja	Opening Date	Closing Date
January 2016	Makara Vilakku	15-01-2016	20-01-2016
February 2016	Monthly Pooja (Kumbham)	13-02-2016	18-02-2016
March 2016	Monthly Pooja (Meenam)	13-03-2016	18-03-2016
	Utsavam	13-03-2016	23-03-2016
	Kodiyettam	14-03-2016
	Utsavam Aarattu – Painkuni Uthram	23-03-2016
April 2016	Vishu Mahotsavam	10-04-2016	18-04-2016
	Vishu Darsanam	14-04-2016
May 2016	Monthly Pooja (Edavam)	14-05-2016	19-05-2016
June 2016	Prathistha Dinam / Idol Installation Day	13-06-2016	14-06-2016
	Monthly Pooja (Midhunam)	14-06-2016	19-06-2016
July 2016	Monthly Pooja (Karkitakam)	15-07-2016	20-07-2016
August 2016	Monthly Pooja (Chingam)	16-08-2016	21-08-2016
September 2016	Onam (14-09-2016)	12-09-2016	16-09-2016
	Monthly Pooja (Kanni)	16-09-2016	21-09-2016
October 2016	Monthly Pooja (Thulam)	16-10-2016	21-10-2016
	Sree Chithira Aatta Thirunal	29-10-2016	30-10-2016
November 2016	Mandala Pooja Mahotsavam	15-11-2016	26-12-2016
December 2016	Mandala Pooja	26-12-2016
	Makara Vilakku Mahotsavam	30-12-2016	20-01-2017
January 2017	Makara Vilakku / Makara Jyothi	14-01-2017

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Opening & Closing Dates (2017 – 2018) :

Month	Pooja	Opening Date	Closing Date
January 2017	Makara Vilakku	14-01-2017	-
February 2017	Monthly Pooja (Kumbham)	12-02-2017	17-02-2017
March 2017	Monthly Pooja (Meenam)	14-03-2016	19-03-2016
	Utsavam	30-03-2017	09-04-2017
	Kodiyettam	31-03-2017
April 2017	Utsavam Aarattu – Painkuni Uthram	09-04-2017
	Vishu Mahotsavam	10-04-2017	18-04-2017
	Vishu Darsanam	14-04-2017
May 2017	Monthly Pooja (Edavam)	14-05-2017	19-05-2017
June 2017	Prathistha Dinam / Idol Installation Day	03-06-2017	04-06-2017
	Monthly Pooja (Midhunam)	14-06-2017	19-06-2017
July 2017	Monthly Pooja (Karkitakam)	16-07-2017	21-07-2017
August 2017	Monthly Pooja (Chingam)	16-08-2017	21-08-2017
September 2017	Onam (04-09-2017)	02-09-2017	06-09-2017
	Monthly Pooja (Kanni)	16-09-2017	21-09-2017
October 2017	Monthly Pooja (Thulam)	16-10-2017	21-10-2017
	Sree Chithira Aatta Thirunal	18-10-2017	19-10-2017
November 2017	Mandala Pooja Mahotsavam	15-11-2017	26-12-2017
December 2017	Mandala Pooja	26-12-2017
	Makara Vilakku Mahotsavam	30-12-2017	20-01-2018
January 2018	Makara Vilakku / Makara Jyothi	14-01-2018

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Opening & Closing Times :

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple usually opens at 04.00 am and closes at 11.00 pm. However during the peak seasons like Makara Vilakku Mahotsavam, the temple timings might be increased to accommodate the large number of devotees.

Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple Pooja Timings :

The Morning and Evening Daily Pooja Timing Schedule of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is tabled below.

Morning Pooja Timing Schedule
Opening of Sanctum Sanctorum in Morning	4.00 AM IST
Nirmalya Darshanam	4.05 AM IST
Ganapati Homam	4.15 AM IST
Neyyabhishekam	4.15 AM to 12.00 PM IST
Usha Pooja	7.30 AM IST
Kalabhabhishekam	12.30 PM IST
Ucha Pooja	1.00 PM IST
Closing of Sanctum Sanctorum	1.30 PM IST
Evening Pooja Timing Schedule
Opening of Sanctum Sanctorum in Evening		4.00 PM IST
Deeparadhana		6.30 PM IST
Pushpabhishekam		7.00 PM IST
Athazha Pooja		10.30 PM IST
Harivarasanam		10.50 PM IST
Closing of Sanctum Sanctorum		11.00 PM IST

Pooja Timings at Sabarimala

Morning
Opening of sanctum sanctorum	4.00 a.m.
Nirmalya darshanam	4.05 a.m.
Ganapati homam	4.15 a.m.
Neyyabhishekam	4.15 a.m. to 12.00 p.m
Usha pooja	7.30 a.m.
Kalabhabhishekam	12.30 p.m.
Ucha pooja	1.00 p.m.
Closing of sanctum sanctorum	1.30 p.m.
Evening
Opening of sanctum sanctorum	4.00 p.m.
Deeparadhana	6.30 p.m.
Pushpabhishekam	7.00 p.m.
Athazha pooja	10.30 p.m.
Harivarasanam	10.50 p.m.
Closing of sanctum sanctorum	11.00 p.m.

Sabarimala 2016 – 2017 Opening and Closing dates and Temple Timings

Opening and closing of Sabarimala Sree Dharmasastha Temple for the year 2016 - 2017
Month	Pooja	Opening date	Closing date
	Makara Vilakku Mahotsavam	30-12-2015	20-01-2016
January 2016	Makara Vilakku	15-01-2016
February	Monthly Pooja (Kumbham)	13-02-2016	18-02-2016
March	Monthly Pooja (Meenam)	13-03-2016	18-03-2016
	Utsavam	13-03-2016	23-03-2016
	Kodiyettam	14-03-2016
	Utsavam Aarattu - Painkuni Uthram	23-03-2016
April	Vishu Mahotsavam (Medam)	10-04-2016	18-04-2016
	Vishu Darsanam	14-04-2016
May	Monthly Pooja (Edavam)	14-05-2016	19-05-2016
June	Prathistha Dinam / Idol Installation Day	13-06-2016	14-06-2016
	Monthly Pooja (Midhunam)	14-06-2016	19-06-2016
July	Monthly Pooja (Karkitakam)	15-07-2016	20-07-2016
August	Monthly Pooja (Chingam)	16-08-2016	21-08-2016
September	Onam (14-09-2016)	12-09-2016	16-09-2016
	Monthly Pooja (Kanni)	16-09-2016	21-09-2016
October	Monthly Pooja (Thulam)	16-10-2016	21-10-2016
	Sree Chithira Thirunal Aatta Vishesham	29-10-2016	30-10-2016
November	Mandala Pooja Mahotsavam	15-11-2016	26-12-2016
December	Mandala Pooja	26-12-2016
	Makara Vilakku Mahotsavam	30-12-2016	20-01-2017
January 2017	Makara Vilakku	14-01-2017

Makara Jyothi 2017 – Sabarimala Makaravilakku Festival on 14 January 2017

Makara Jyoti (Light of Capricorn) – Sabarimala Makaravilakku Festival on 14th January 2017 – Millions of pilgrims are expected to witness the famous Sabarimala Makaravilakku at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala, India.

Makaravilaku – Makara Jyothi marks the end of the Sabarimala Mandala Pooja pilgrimage season. According to the traditional Malayalam panchangam and Vedic astrology, the Makaravilakku pooja will take place at 6:44 PM in the evening.

Sabarimala pilgrims will be able to witness the Makarajyothi Anduthram star at the Ponnambalamedu and the Thiruvabharanam (traditional antique gold ornaments brought from the Pandalam Palace) adorned Lord Ayyappa Swamy.

Sabarimala Makarasamkramam (Makara Samkramam) is the time when Lord Surya (the Sun God) moves from Dhanu Rasi to Makaram Rasi. Makarasamkrama Pooja is at Sabarimala temple during this time. Pilgrims will be allowed to climb the Pathinettampadi (the holy 18 steps) after Ucha Pooja. Devotees can witness the most important evening Deeparadhana and Makara Jyothi Darshan. The most interesting feature of deeparadhana is that the Brahminy kite (eagle) is hovers over the Sabarimala Temple indicating to start the auspicious evening deeparadhana on Makaravilakku day. After the deeparadhana, the Makarajyothi star will appear on the sky. Makara Jyothi is worshiped as a part of ritual in Sabarimala Temple on Makara Sankranti on 14 January every year. Devout Hindus believe that the jyothi is a celestial phenomenon and its sighting is auspicious and brings good luck and blessings.

It is said that Lord Sri Rama and his brother Lakshmana met Sabari, an urban devotee, at Sabarimala. Sabari offered the Lord fruits after tasting them. But the Lord accepted them gladly and whole-heartedly. The Lord then turned and saw a divine person doing tapas. He asked Sabari who it was. Sabari said it was Sasta. Rama walked towards Sasta and the latter stood up to welcome the Prince of Ayodhya. The anniversary of this incident is celebrated on Makara Vilakku day. It is believed that on Makara Vilakku day, Lord Dharmasasta stops his tapas to bless his devotees.

Another popular mythical belief is that the Makara Vilakku is lit there in commemoration of the aarathi performed by Dev rishis and Devas at the time of revelation of His Divine form (Roopa) by Manikantan (an incarnation of Sasta). This event marks the culmination of the long and arduous pilgrimage to Sabarimala shrine. The light disappears in the evening after the Thiruvaabharanam (divine ornaments) are brought into the sanctum sanctorum and are placed on the Lord. The most significant rituals of worship are performed at the day of Makara Sankaranthi.

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Sabarimala is a pilgrimage site of the Hindu deity Ayappa in Kerala

Shayana Pradikshanam devotional practice of pilgrims at Sabarimala
In the Indian state of Kerala, only 10 degrees above the equator, is a land of steep mountains thickly covered with splendid tropical forests. The early people of this region, of a Dravidian ancestral stock, lived amongst the trackless valleys and roaring streams in small tribal groups. Farming little, they hunted in the teeming forests, and their primary deity, Ayappa, was a youthful forest god. Various legends explain the birth of Ayappa (also known as Dharmasasta). One begins with Shiva roaming the mountain kingdoms of the Himalayas. There he sees a lovely maiden and, overcome with desire, makes passionate love with her. But the maiden is married to another man, a tribal chieftain who vows revenge on the god. The tribal chieftain retires to an ice cave in the high mountains and practices austerities for a thousand years. Through these austerities he gains great psychic powers and finally goes forth to punish Shiva. From the heights of Mt. Kailash, Shiva sees the tribal chieftain approaching. The chieftain looks like a terrible demon and Shiva, overcome with fear, calls on the god Vishnu for assistance and protection. Vishnu manifests himself as a beautiful damsel, seduces the demon chieftain, and destroys him. But then Shiva, once again overcome with sexual desire, sees the radiant damsel (who is merely Vishnu in another form) and mates with her. Out of this union comes a baby boy named Ayappa. Embodying the qualities of both Vishnu and Shiva, Ayappa is an avatar (divinity in human form) born into the world to battle the demons of the hill tribes of Kerala. Shiva tells the magical child of his dharma-life (a life of service), and leaves him upon the bank of a mountain stream where he is discovered by a childless tribal king. Brought up by the king, Ayappa does many miracles, is a great healer and a defeater of demons. After fulfilling the purpose of his incarnation Ayappa entered the inner sanctum of the ancient temple upon sacred Mt. Sabari and disappeared. During his mythical life, Ayappa kept the company of tigers and leopards. Mystics living in the deep forests surrounding the Sabarimala Mountains have for a thousand years reported seeing Ayappa riding through the jungles upon a majestic tiger.

The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Before beginning the multi-day walk through the mountain jungles to get to Sabarimala, the pilgrims prepare themselves with 41 days of rigorous fasting, celibacy, meditation and prayer. Finally arriving at the shrine, the pilgrims will wait in line for hours, even days, to have one or two seconds in front of the image of Ayappa. After seeing the deity, many pilgrims will complete a vow called Shayana Pradikshanam. In the Malayalam language of Kerala, Shayana means “body” and Pradakshinam means “revolution,” so Shayana Pradakshinam means “revolution with the Body.” This devotional practice is done not only in Sabarimala but also in other temples in Kerala.
The Sabarimala shrine is only open a few times each year: the Mandalam festival covering 41 days from November 15 to December 26; the Makaravilakku from January 1-14; on Vishu, the day of the vernal equinox in April; and during smaller festivals in May/June and August/September. The shrine, unlike many in southern India is open to persons of all religious callings, and there are no caste restrictions during the pilgrimage. However, women - unless they are younger than six or older than sixty - are not allowed to come to Sabarimala. This is explained by referring to the celibacy of Ayappa and the concern that he might be lured away from his shrine by a woman his age (if certain readers find this somewhat sexist, they are informed that there are particular goddess shrines in south India which men are forbidden to enter). It is said that during the pilgrimage periods no tigers are found along the forest trails leading to Sabarimala. This is explained as resulting from Ayappa’s power over tigers. Other holy places associated with Ayappa are Kulattupuzha, Aryankavu, Accankovil, and Kantamala.

Additional notes on SABARIMALA and AYAPPA

The information given above was taken from different books on the Sabarimala shrine. After putting these writings on the web site, I received the following material from a reader of the web site, Geetha Krishnan. This new material, relating to the legend of Ayappa, is somewhat different than what I had written. This sort of difference in legend and myth is something quite common in the study of sacred places, and therefore I have included both versions of the Ayappa myth. Thank you to Geetha Krishnan for this alternative myth.
Shiva does not call upon Vishnu after mating with a tribal woman. The story goes that Shiva gives a boon to an asura (a demon) that allows him to merely touch a person on his head and he will fall dead. The asura then thanks him and wants to try out the boon on Lord Shiva himself. In fear, Shiva runs and calls upon Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu in the guise of the beautiful maiden Mohini, which literally means "enchantress" or "seductress", approaches the asura. She questions him about why he is chasing Shiva. The asura tells her how he has received this boon and wanted to test it on Shiva himself. Mohini tricks the foolish asura by telling him that the boon was really ineffective and Shiva did not want him to know that. If he wanted, he could test it on himself. The asura placed his hand on his own head, believing her, and he falls dead. Shiva is very grateful towards Vishnu but is enchanted by his female form. They have the child Ayappa to satisfy the demigods' plea to save them from the torments of the demon Mahishi. Ayappa is then raised by the King of Panthala, Rajashekharan, a truly royal king not a tribal king, who was childless. Right after adopting the child Ayappa, whom he called Mani Kanda, meaning ‘one who wears a bell around his neck’ (for the child was found wearing a small bell on a chain around his neck that attracted the king's attention who was out on a hunt with his men), the king has a child of his own. When Ayappa was about to reach age, the queen feared that her own child would lose his right to the throne, so with the minister of the court, she schemed to murder Ayappa. She faked being ill saying that her stomach was in unbearable pain. The minister bribed the court physician to say that the only remedy would be a female tiger's milk. Ayappa, willing to do anything for his mother, goes on the dangerous mission alone to get the milk. Instead, he meets Mahishi and slays her. The gods in happiness and joy assume the form of tigers and accompany back to the palace to give the so-called needed milk remedy. Upon seeing this, the queen confessed her schemes and begs forgiveness from the young prince. Ayappa, forgiving his mother, takes upon the right of celibacy and leaves the palace to reside on Sabarimala. Women are not allowed to go to the temple, not in fear that Ayappa might leave the shrine, but that women will desire and fall in love with the beautiful celibate god. They are allowed after they have reached menopausal age.
For further information on the pilgrimage to Sabarimala, consult:
Gangadharan, N.; Pilgrimage to Sabarimala; in Pilgrimage Studies: Sacred Places, Sacred Traditions; The Society of Pilgrimage Studies (Dubey, D.P. editor); Allahabad, India; 1995