Sabarimala: The annual Makara vilakk and makara samkrama poojas will be held this evening. Thiruvabharanam, the sacred jewels of the deity, will be received at 5.30 in the evening from Saramkuthy by Devaswom Board authorities. Thiruvabharanam will reach at Pathinettampadi, the holy 18 steps at 6 pm and Thanthri Kandaru Rjeevaru and Melshanthy V N Vasudevan Namboodiri will receive the sacred jewels and the doors of the shrine will be closed for Deeparadhana. The deity will be decorated with the sacred jewels and at 6.30, Deeparadhana poojas will take place followed by Makara jyothy and Makara Samkrama pooja at 7.25 pm.
Security has been strengthened on the grounds of Makara vilakk at Pamba and premises. As lakhs of devotees will visit Sabarimala today, 1600 cops have been deployed at Pamba alone. Devotees won’t be allowed to trek the holy 18 steps after the noon pooja, till 6.30 pm. From Pamba, pilgrims are not allowed from noon till the sacred jewel parade reaches Saramkuthy.
28 points have been set for Makara jyothi darsan.