Makarajyoti is a celestial star which is worshipped by the pilgrims. The main worshipping rituals are performed at the day of Makara Sankaranthi (every 14 January) day. It draws the second largest number of pilgrims in the country. The devotees believe that witnessing the light brings them good luck and divine blessings.
The Makara Jyothi marks the climax of the Makaravilakku season of Sabarimalapilgrimage lasting 41 days.
The huge crowd who witness the favourable event has been on the rise every year.In 2010, it is believed that 15 lakh devotees witnessed Magharajyoti light.Compare with previous year, the revenue collection during the Makaravilakku period is also higher. In 2008, the total donations was Rs 72.52 crore against previous year’s Rs. 72.35 crore.During December 2008, 87-year-old V S Achuthanandan, a member of the CPM politburo, the party’s highest decision-making body, became the first communist chief minister to visit the temple. People always see an eagle flying over Sabarimala during Maghara Vilakku time.
Rahul Easwar, grandson of traditional supreme priest of the Sabarimala temple, Tantri Kantaru Maheswararu mentioned to The Hindu that, the Makaravilakku was a fire lit by human hand on the hill neighbouring Sabarimala while the Makarajyothi was a star that appeared in the evening sky on the day marking the culmination of the annual festival.
“It is the star that is worshipped as a celestial light. The Makaravilakku is merely a ritual involving the lighting of a fire as a symbolic act,” he said.
“There is a practice of litting fire on the top of mountains known as Beacon Mountains which work similar like light house for ships, Beacon Mountains guide the trekkers.Also some believe as a ritual practised as celestial signature of mankind to alien world” Anthropologist Biju F Kallukkaran.
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