Sabarimala Temple

Sabarimala Temple in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, drawing an estimated 40 to 50 million devotees each year during the pilgrimage season. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, a celibate deity believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini (Vishnu in female form). The pilgrimage follows strict rules of celibacy and austerity: devotees must observe a 41-day preparatory fast known as the Mandala Kalam, wear black or blue clothing, abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and sexual activity, and carry an irumudi (ceremonial bag) on their head throughout the journey. The temple is accessible only on foot through forest terrain, climbing 18 sacred steps called the Pathinettam Padi to reach the sanctum. The most sacred period is during Mandalam and Makaravilakku in December and January. The temple became the subject of significant legal controversy in 2018 over the exclusion of women of menstruating age, a case that reached the Supreme Court of India.