Pathanamthitta: The spiritually charged atmosphere at Sabarimala peaked on Tuesday as lakhs of pilgrims witnessed the auspicious Makara Jyothi appearing on Ponnambalamedu. The air resonated with fervent chants of "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" as devotees caught three glimpses of the divine light along with the Makara star.  

The Makara Jyothi appeared following the Deeparadhana, a sacred ritual during which Lord Ayyappa's idol is adorned with holy ornaments brought from the Pandalam palace. The Thiruvabharanam was taken as a procession, “Ghoshayatra”, from the palace, accompanied by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) representatives, on January 12. Kerala Minister for Devaswom VN Vasavan, Tamil Nadu Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department PK Sekar Babu, and Pathanamthitta Collector Prem Krishnan were present at Sannidhanam while receiving the Thiruvabharanam. 

Many devotees set up makeshift shelters, or Parnasalas, at Sannidhanam and across the 18 sacred hills surrounding the temple to view the Makara Jyothi. Others, unable to find space, laid out mats along the trekking paths, transforming them into temporary resting spots.  

The influx of devotees at Sannidhanam was overwhelming, with many arriving days in advance to secure their place. By Tuesday morning, an estimated 1.5 lakh pilgrims had gathered on the hillock, and on Monday alone, 64,194 devotees made the climb by 6 pm. A significant number of pilgrims moved into the surrounding forests for a better view of the divine light.  

To manage the swelling crowds and ensure safety, additional police personnel were deployed at key locations, including Pandithavalam and Malikappuram. Strict regulations were also enforced at Nilakkal, where vehicles heading to Pampa were closely monitored.  

Authorities continued facing challenges, as some devotees, who have been present for days, remain reluctant to leave even after offering their prayers at the temple. Despite these hurdles, the event was marked by unparalleled devotion and spiritual fervour.