Daily darshan timings are 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Devotees are required to book slots online via www.sabarimalaonline.org.
Published Nov 17, 2025 | 2:44 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 17, 2025 | 2:44 PM
Sabarimala temple. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: The Mandala Puja will be held on 27 December. After this, the temple will reopen for the Makaravilakku season on the evening of 30 December. The Makaravilakku ritual itself is scheduled for 14 January 2026, and devotees will be allowed darshan until 19 January 2026. Finally, the shrine will close on the morning of 20 January 2026.
The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple opened on Sunday, 16 November, heralding the start of the two-month Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
The sanctum was opened at 5 pm by outgoing Melsanthi Arun Kumar Namboothiri, in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu. The Upadevata shrines were opened subsequently and the sacred fire was transferred to the Aazhi in a traditional ceremony attended by Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar.
In the evening the newly selected melsanthis—ED Prasad for Sabarimala Ayyappa and MG Manu Namboothiri for Malikappuram Devi—were formally installed; they will assume charge from Monday, 17 November, the official start of the pilgrimage season.
A heavy rush of devotees marked the opening day. Pilgrims who had been gathering at Pampa since Saturday, 15 November evening were allowed to begin their trek to the hill from Sunday afternoon. On Monday—the first day of the Malayalam month Vrishchikam—hundreds queued for darshan.
Daily darshan timings are 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Devotees are required to book slots online via www.sabarimalaonline.org.
Meanwhile, the key dates are: The Mandala Puja will be held on 27 December. After this, the temple will reopen for the Makaravilakku season on the evening of 30 December. The Makaravilakku ritual itself is scheduled for 14 January 2026, and devotees will be allowed darshan until 19 January 2026. Finally, the shrine will close on the morning of 20 January 2026.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
