Walking miles for Lord Ayappan, Sabarimala

The temple located in Kerela's Panthnamthitta district in South India, India. One of the most famous temple pilgrimages in South India, South Asia, India. This is a kanniayyappan, first time pilgrims' ritual; cermony. Before they begin the final stage of pilgrimage, the kanniayyappans throw sprears, trishul, trident, is called saramkuthi. At sabaripeedom, place where the coconut lands, the pilgrims break the cermonial coconut before starting the pilgrimage up the mountain. Pilgrims carry irumudikettu on their heads which they cannot put down till they reach the temple.The pilgrims make an ardous trek through the jungle to get to the temple. Pilgrims wear safron clothing.Hoards of pilgrims from all over South India and the World come for the pilgrimage. Due to the fact that the temple is located deep in the jungle, the temple is normally open only from November to January. This period is called mandalakkalam. This is the time of the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage must be done with bare feet. The local language is malayam and tamil but some do speak english.

The devotees of Lord Ayyappan / Ayappan show the strength of their devotion in various ways. At every rest stop along the way are reminders of the mission these pilgrims are on. These can be seen in the numourous idols and messages to Lord Ayyappan / Ayappan. Every town that the pilgrims pass through has crowds of onlookers cheering on the pilgrims. The shops are beautifully decorated with shopkeepers anticipating good sales of supplies for the pilgrimage. They also sell toys and other playthings for the children going along on the pilgrimage. Here, the devotees are seen at the Sree Siva Parvathy Temple at Kalaketty.

During the trek up to the mountain where the Sabarimala temple is situated, the devotees keep themselves going by chanting the name of Lord Ayyappan / Ayappan, avatar / incarnation of lord Shiva / Siva, the Destroyer in the Hindu Trinity. They carry the Irumudikuttu, offerings to Lord Ayyappan on their heads. The pilgrims are not allowed put this down till they reach the Sabarimala temple, Kerala, South India, India. The irumudikattu is wrapped in saffron cloth called kesari kapra, an auspicious / holy color.

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