Divine Rush: Begin of Lord Ayyappa's Annual Pilgrimage

Thousands of devotees gathered at the Lord Ayyappa Temple to mark the start of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Devotees, in traditional attire, queued for blessings as the temple gates opened with rituals. The pilgrimage draws global visitors, with daily numbers controlled by a booking system.

Early on Monday, a large number of devotees converged at the Lord Ayyappa Temple, marking the auspicious start of the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

Pilgrims, clad in customary black and carrying sacred bundles, queued for hours to offer prayers. Newly appointed chief priest E D Prasad Namboothiri opened the portals amidst traditional hymns.

With a maximum of 90,000 pilgrims allowed daily, the Travancore Devaswom Board ensures crowd control through virtual queue and spot booking systems. The global pilgrimage season extends over two months.