Pilgrim Room Bookings at Sannidhanam Released for Sabarimala Niraputhari Mahotsav
Sabarimala: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has opened Pilgrim Room Bookings at Sannidhanam and Virtual Queue Darshan ticket bookings available for devotees planning to attend the upcoming Niraputhari Mahotsav at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
Room Check-in Process at Sannidhanam
Pilgrims who have reserved rooms at Sannidhanam must first report to the Accommodation Centre to complete the check-in process. After verification, the staff will provide the room details, including the allotted accommodation block and room number.
Pilgrims should then proceed to the allotted building, where the room will be handed over. At the building, a sleeping mat and pillow are available at a charge of ₹50 per person, while bed sheets can be obtained for ₹100.
All items issued, including the sleeping mat, pillow, and bed sheets, must be returned to the allotted accommodation building before checking out.
After vacating the room, pilgrims must also complete the check-out formalities at the Accommodation Centre. The refundable caution deposit paid at the time of booking will be processed only after the check-out procedure is completed.
Devotees can now book their Virtual Queue darshan slots and accommodation at Sannidhanam through the official online portals ahead of the festival.
The Virtual Queue Darshan ticket is mandatory for devotees visiting Sabarimala. Pilgrims must book their darshan slot in advance through sabarimalaonline.org and carry the Virtual Queue ticket (printed or digital) along with a valid photo ID. The ticket must be produced at the Darshan Ticket Check Point at Pampa before pilgrims are permitted to proceed to Sabarimala Sannidhanam for darshan.
Distribution of Niraputhari Prasadam
The Sabarimala Sannidhanam will open at 5:00 p.m. on August 2 and remain open until 10:00 p.m. on August 3 in connection with the Niraputhari Mahotsav. The main Niraputhari ritual will be performed on August 3 between 5:40 a.m. and 6:20 a.m., on the auspicious Uthrittathi Nakshatram in Karkidakam Rashi.
On the morning of August 3, the sacred paddy sheaves will be ceremonially received at the Pathinettampadi (18 Holy Steps) by Head Priest (Tantri) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu, Sabarimala Melsanthi E.D. Prasad, Malikappuram Melshanti M.G. Manu Namboothiri, and the Keezhsanthis (assistant priests). The sheaves will then be taken to the eastern mandapam for worship before being carried into the sanctum sanctorum and offered to Lord Ayyappa. Payasam prepared from the newly harvested rice will also be offered to the deity as part of the Niraputhari rituals.
After the pooja, small paddy sheaves are tied in front of the sanctum sanctorum, while the remaining sheaves are distributed as prasadam to devotees by the Head Priest and Melshanti. In recent years, paddy harvested at the Sannidhanam has been offered to Lord Ayyappa before the sheaves brought from other regions.
Traditionally, paddy for the Niraputhari ceremony is brought to Sabarimala from Aranmula, Palakkad, Achankovil and Chettikulangara, along with offerings from Tamil Nadu. Devotees from Rajapalayam also bring sacred paddy to the Sannidhanam in a ceremonial chariot procession, continuing a long-standing tradition associated with the annual harvest festival.
The Niraputhari Mahotsav symbolizes the offering of newly harvested rice and paddy to Lord Ayyappa as an expression of gratitude for a prosperous harvest season. The term Niraputhari is derived from two Malayalam words—Nira, meaning "abundance" or "fullness," and Puthari, meaning "new rice."(sabarimalauptodate.in)
During the ritual, freshly harvested paddy is ceremonially offered before Lord Ayyappa, invoking blessings for agricultural prosperity, abundance, and the well-being of devotees. The blessed paddy is later distributed among devotees as prasadam.
Traditionally observed during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, also known as the Ramayana Month, the festival is regarded as an auspicious occasion for prayer, spiritual reflection, and temple worship across Kerala.