Pilgrims witness Makarajyothi at Sabarimala

SABARIMALA: In a surcharged atmosphere of religious fervour, lakhs of pilgrims witnessed the Makarajyothi on the sky in the north-east of Lord Ayyappa temple on Sunday.Jampacked with pilgrims at Sannidhanam and surrounding areas, especially Pandithalavalam, Malikappuram, Saramkuthi and rooftops of pilgrim shelter buildings, the atmosphere was filled with chants of Swamiye Saranamayyappa when the Makarajyothi was seen.Lakhs of pilgrims had darshan of Lord Ayyappa after adorning the Thiruvabharanam on the idol of Ayyappa when the sanctum sanctorum of the temple was opened for deeparadhana at 6.45 pm.Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, Additional Chief Secretary and chairman of the Sabarimala high-powered committee K Jayakumar, Travancore Devaswom Board president M Rajagoplan Nair, members K Sicily and K V Padmanabhan, special commissioner S Jagadees, Devaswom chief engineer Ravikumar were among those who were present during the deeparadhana.Travancore Devaswom Board president M Rajagopalan Nair, members K Sicily and K V Padmanabhan, Devaswom commissioner N Vasu, special commissioner S Jagadees and chief engineer Ravikumar received the Thiruvabharanam procession when it reached the golden flag mast at Sopanam.The procession was given a traditional reception at Saramkuthi under the leadership of Sabarimala Devaswom executive officer M Satheeshkumar, administrative officer Rajan, Sopanam officer Ajithkumar and volunteers of Akhila Bharatha Ayppa Seva Sangham and Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam.Earlier at Valiyanavattom near Pampa, Devaswom administrative officer Sajibabu led the reception accorded to the procession.