Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27: Mandala-Makaravilakku Season Dates, Ayyappa Deeksha Rules, Virtual-Q Booking and Routes

Quick answer: The Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku season 2026-27 (Kollavarsham 1202) is expected to begin when the temple opens on the evening of Monday 16 November 2026. The 41-day Mandala season starts on Tuesday 17 November, Mandala Pooja is on Sunday 27 December 2026 and Makaravilakku is expected on Thursday 14 January 2027. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has not yet published a 2026-27 schedule that we could verify, so every date here is marked expected or to be confirmed. Online Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for all pilgrims.

Last updated: 21 October 2026. This guide was first written for the 2025 season. We have rewritten it for 2026-27: season dates from Drik Panchang and our validated calculator, the 41-day Ayyappa mala deeksha rules, Irumudi, Virtual-Q, the main routes and a section for devotees travelling from abroad. We have removed old clock timings, prices and phone numbers, which change every season.

Sabarimala 2026-27 season dates (expected, TDB to confirm)

These dates follow the Malayalam solar calendar: the season opens with the month of Vrischikam and reaches its peak at Makara Sankranti. They are what the calendar predicts, not an official notice. When the TDB publishes the 2026-27 schedule, follow it. For the meaning of each festival day, see Mandala Pooja 2026 and Makaravilakku 2027.

When to start your 41-day vratham: Count back from the day you plan to climb. For darshan on Mandala Pooja day (27 December), a 41-day vratham would begin around Tuesday 17 November, the first day of the season. For Makaravilakku (14 January 2027), it would begin around Friday 4 December 2026. Many devotees simply begin on Vrischikam 1 and climb whenever their group goes. Your Guru Swami will fix the day of mala dharana.

Also read in this Margashirsha season series: Utpanna Ekadashi 2026, Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026, Margashirsha Guruvar and Margasira Lakshmivara Vratam 2026, Vivah Panchami 2026, Subrahmanya Shashti 2026, Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi 2026, Datta Jayanti 2026.

Ayyappa mala deeksha rules: the 41-day vratham (Ayyappa Deeksha Niyamalu)

The Mandala vratham is a 41-day period of discipline before the climb. It begins with mala dharana, when a Guru Swami or temple priest puts the tulasi or rudraksha mala around the devotee's neck. From that moment the devotee is called Swamy, and is treated as a small part of Ayyappa himself. Rules differ a little between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, and between Guru Swamis. The common core is:

• Dress: black, blue or saffron clothes for the whole period. Many Telugu and Tamil devotees wear black; Kerala devotees often wear black or blue.
• Celibacy: strict brahmacharya in thought, word and deed for the 41 days.
• Food: simple vegetarian food, usually cooked at home. No meat, eggs, alcohol, tobacco or other intoxicants. Many avoid onion and garlic and eat only once or twice a day.
• Bathing and prayer: a bath before the morning and evening prayers, with the Ayyappa sharanam chant and a lamp.
• Speech and conduct: no anger, gossip or harsh words. Every person, man or woman, is addressed as Swamy, Ayyappa or Matha.
• Body: many devotees do not cut hair or shave during the vratham, and walk barefoot where they safely can.
• Rest: many sleep on a mat on the floor and avoid entertainment and parties.
• Bhajans and seva: joining group bhajans and padi pooja, and serving food to other Swamys, is part of the practice.

A first-time pilgrim is called a Kanni Swami or Kanni Ayyappan, and a group usually holds a special puja for them. Read our Kanni Ayyappan and Guru Swami guide and Ayyappa mala dharana rituals for the full ritual.

A health note: the vratham is a discipline, not a test of endurance. If you are diabetic, have heart or blood-pressure problems, are on regular medication or are elderly, ask your doctor before you change your diet or plan the climb. Your Guru Swami can adapt food rules for health reasons. The vratham does not promise any particular result; it is an offering of discipline and devotion.

Irumudi Kettu: what goes in it

The Irumudi is the two-part cloth bundle a pilgrim carries on the head. It is packed in a ceremony called Kettunirakkal (or Kettu Nirai), usually led by the Guru Swami on the day the group leaves. The front part holds the offerings for Ayyappa, the most important being a coconut filled with ghee for Neyyabhishekam. The back part holds the pilgrim's own provisions for the journey.

By tradition, only pilgrims carrying the Irumudi climb the Pathinettam Padi, the eighteen sacred steps. See Irumudi Kettu: symbolism and preparation and the meaning of the 18 steps.

Sabarimala Virtual-Q online booking

The TDB website states that online Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for all pilgrims visiting Sabarimala. Bookings are made on the official portal, sabarimalaonline.org. In general you:

• Register with your name, a mobile number or e-mail address, a photograph and an identity document.
• Choose your darshan date and time slot, and add the members of your group if the portal allows it.
• Download or print the booking pass, and carry it with the same identity document you used to book.
• Arrive for your slot. Pilgrims are checked at the entry points, so keep the pass handy.

Booking opens before the season starts; watch the portal and TDB announcements in late October and early November. In the 2025-26 season, news reports also described real-time (spot) booking centres at places such as Nilakkal, Pampa, Erumeli and Vandiperiyar. Check whether they operate in 2026-27 before relying on them. We do not list slot numbers or fees, which the TDB sets each season.

For overseas devotees: check on the portal which identity documents it accepts before you travel. Book early for the peak days: the first days of the season, Mandala Pooja and the days around Makaravilakku.

Routes to Sabarimala

1. Pamba route (most pilgrims)

Most pilgrims travel by road to Nilakkal, which in recent seasons has served as the base camp and parking area. KSRTC buses run from Nilakkal to Pamba. After a bath in the Pamba river, the climb to the Sannidhanam is about 5 km on foot, through Neelimala, Appachimedu, Sabaripeedam and Saramkuthi. The path is steep in places. Climb at your own pace and rest often. See Pamba Snanam and its meaning.

2. Erumeli traditional forest route (Peruvazhi)

The traditional route begins at Erumeli, where pilgrims pray at the Dharma Sastha temple and at the Vavar shrine and perform Petta Thullal, a ritual dance. From there the long forest walk crosses hills such as Karimala before reaching Pamba. It takes several days on foot and is opened for pilgrims only during the season, under forest department rules. Walk it only with an experienced group and Guru Swami. Read Ayyappa and Vavar Swamy.

3. Pullumedu route

A shorter forest path approaches the Sannidhanam from the Pullumedu side, near Vandiperiyar and Kumily in Idukki district. It is used by fewer pilgrims and depends on forest department permission each season. Check current rules before you plan it.

Getting to Kerala

• By air: the nearest international airports are Kochi (Cochin) and Thiruvananthapuram. Both are a long road journey from Pamba, so allow a full travel day.
• By rail: Chengannur, Thiruvalla and Kottayam are the usual railheads for Sabarimala pilgrims, with buses towards Pamba during the season.
• By road: KSRTC runs special Sabarimala services during the season from many towns in Kerala and neighbouring states.

At the Sannidhanam

• Pathinettam Padi: the eighteen sacred steps, climbed only with the Irumudi on the head.
• Neyyabhishekam: the ghee from the pilgrim's coconut is offered to Ayyappa. See Neyyabhishekam explained.
• Malikappuram: the shrine of Malikappuram Devi near the main temple. See Malikappuram Devi.
• Prasadam: Aravana payasam and Appam are the well-known prasadams of Sabarimala.
• Harivarasanam: the lullaby sung as the temple closes for the night.

The first verse of Harivarasanam, from the text published by sanskritdocuments.org:

हरिवरासनं विश्वमोहनं
हरिदधीश्वरमाराध्यपादुकम् ।
अरिविमर्दनं नित्यनर्तनं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ १॥

harivarāsanaṃ viśvamohanaṃ
haridadhīśvaramārādhyapādukam |
arivimardanaṃ nityanartanaṃ
hariharātmajaṃ devamāśraye || 1||

Meaning: I take refuge in the god whose seat is Hari's throne, who enchants the universe, whose sandals are worshipped, who destroys enemies and dances eternally, the son of Hari and Hara. Read the full Harivarasanam with meaning.

Travel notes for NRI devotees

• Starting the mala abroad: many devotees in the USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, the Gulf and Australia take the mala at a local Ayyappa or Hindu temple, or from a Guru Swami in their community, and keep the vratham at home. See Ayyappa deeksha for NRIs.
• Work and winter: tell your manager early if you will dress differently or need time off. In a cold climate, wearing socks or shoes outdoors for safety is a sensible adjustment; ask your Guru Swami how your group handles it.
• Plan flights around the vratham: arrive in Kerala a few days before the climb, so that jet lag has eased. Long flights and a steep climb on the same day are hard on the body.
• Avoid peak days if you can: the opening days, Mandala Pooja and the days around Makaravilakku are the most crowded. A mid-season weekday is usually easier.
• Weather: the northeast monsoon can bring rain to Kerala in November and early December. Pack a light rain cover and keep your Irumudi dry.
• Insurance and health: carry travel insurance, your regular medicines and a copy of your prescriptions. Do not attempt the climb if you feel chest pain or breathlessness; there are medical aid points along the main path in the season.
• If you cannot travel: keep the vratham or a shorter discipline at home, and pray on Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku days with the sharanam chant and Harivarasanam.

Find a temple near you in our guides to Ayyappa temples in the USA, Singapore and Ayyappa and Dharma Sastha temples.

Rules at the temple

• Carry your Virtual-Q pass and identity document at all times.
• Follow police and TDB volunteers in the queue. Do not push or run on the steps.
• Keep plastic out of the forest and the Pamba river; carry your waste back.
• Follow the photography rules announced at the Sannidhanam.
• The temple follows its traditional entry custom for women of menstruating age. For the background, read the Sabarimala verdict, tradition and current legal status, and follow the TDB's current rules.

Sabarimala 2026-27: frequently asked questions

When does Sabarimala open for the Mandala season in 2026?

The temple is expected to open on the evening of Monday 16 November 2026, the eve of Vrischikam 1. The 41-day Mandala season then begins on Tuesday 17 November, which Drik Panchang lists as the day Mandala Pooja begins. As of 21 October 2026 the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has not published a 2026-27 schedule that we could verify, so treat these dates as expected and to be confirmed.

When is Mandala Pooja 2026 and Makaravilakku 2027?

Drik Panchang lists Mandala Pooja on Sunday 27 December 2026. Makaravilakku falls on Makara Sankranti, which our calculation places at about 8:56 PM IST on Thursday 14 January 2027, so Makaravilakku is expected on 14 January 2027. Both should be confirmed with TDB announcements before you book travel.

Is Virtual-Q booking compulsory for Sabarimala?

Yes. The TDB website states that online Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for all pilgrims visiting Sabarimala. Book through the official portal, sabarimalaonline.org, and carry the booking and the identity document you used to book it.

What are the main Ayyappa mala deeksha rules?

The vratham traditionally lasts 41 days from mala dharana. Devotees wear the tulasi or rudraksha mala and black, blue or saffron clothes, keep celibacy, eat simple vegetarian food without alcohol or tobacco, bathe twice a day, pray morning and evening, and address everyone as Swamy. Details vary by Guru Swami and region.

Can NRIs keep Ayyappa deeksha abroad?

Yes. Many devotees take the mala at an Ayyappa temple or from a Guru Swami where they live, keep the 41 days at home and work, and fly to Kerala for the final part. Plan your flights so the last days of the vratham are not spent tired and jet-lagged, and follow your Guru Swami's guidance on the Irumudi.

What are the Sabarimala darshan timings?

We do not publish darshan or pooja clock times because they are set by the TDB and can change during the season. Check the official TDB and Sabarimala websites for current timings before you travel.

Editor's note

Editor's note (21 October 2026): This page has been rewritten in place for the 2026-27 season. Vrischika Sankranti on 16 November, the start of the Mandala season on 17 November and Mandala Pooja on 27 December come from Drik Panchang; Makara Sankranti on 14 January 2027 comes from our ephemeris calculator, which matches Drik to within one or two minutes. The TDB had not published an official 2026-27 schedule that we could verify as of this date, so all season dates are marked expected or to be confirmed. The Virtual-Q requirement is quoted from the TDB website. We do not publish darshan times, prices, slot numbers or phone numbers. Deeksha customs vary by region and Guru Swami, and nothing here promises any particular result.

Related guides

• Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku 2026-27 season guide
• Sabarimala Mandala season 2026: preparations news
• Mandala Pooja 2026: date and significance
• Makaravilakku 2027
• Makara Jyothi 2027: meaning
• Thiruvabharanam procession from Pandalam
• Ayyappa Swamy 108 names
• Sabarimala Ayyappa temple: complete pilgrimage guide