Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala/ ਸਬਰੀਮਾਲਾ ਵਿਖੇ ਮੰਡਲਾ ਪੂਜਾ
The MandalaPooja at the Sabarimala Sri Dharma Shasta Temple marks the grand culmination of the 41-day MandalaKaalam.
MandalaKaalam is a major pilgrimage season of austerity and devotion observed by Lord Ayyappa devotees.
The MandalaPooja typically concludes around 27 December, drawing large numbers of pilgrims to Sabarimala.
Key Aspects of MandalaPooja
Culmination: It marks the end of the 41-day MandalaKaalam, a period of strict vows, celibacy, austerity, and spiritual discipline observed by Lord Ayyappa devotees.
Timing: The season begins in mid-November (Vrishchikam month) and concludes in late December (Dhanu month).
Pilgrimage Significance: This is a peak pilgrimage period, with devotees undertaking arduous journeys to cross the Pampa River and ascend the 18 sacred steps leading to the Sabarimala Sri Dharma Shasta Temple.
Spiritual Meaning: The observance emphasises self-discipline, inner purification, and spiritual awakening, encapsulated in the Sanskrit maxim “Tat TvamAsi” (That Thou Art).