<p>The <em>Makaravilakku </em>festival of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple falls on Saturday.</p>.<p>As part of the <em>Makaravilakku </em>rituals, the procession carrying <em>Tiruvabharanam </em>(sacred ornaments) started from Pandalam on Thursday. It will reach the hill shrine by Saturday and the Ayyappa idol will be adorned with the ornaments during the <em>Makaravilakku </em>ritual.</p>.<p>The maximum number of pilgrims allowed on the day has been limited to 90,000 so as to manage the crowd. Entry is allowed only through the virtual queue system.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, sale of cardamom-less <em>Aravana </em>(sweet prasadam) began from Thursday morning. The distribution of <em>Aravana </em>was stopped on Wednesday afternoon following a High Court directive as pesticide presence was found in the cardamom used for the preparation. </p>
<p>The <em>Makaravilakku </em>festival of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple falls on Saturday.</p>.<p>As part of the <em>Makaravilakku </em>rituals, the procession carrying <em>Tiruvabharanam </em>(sacred ornaments) started from Pandalam on Thursday. It will reach the hill shrine by Saturday and the Ayyappa idol will be adorned with the ornaments during the <em>Makaravilakku </em>ritual.</p>.<p>The maximum number of pilgrims allowed on the day has been limited to 90,000 so as to manage the crowd. Entry is allowed only through the virtual queue system.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, sale of cardamom-less <em>Aravana </em>(sweet prasadam) began from Thursday morning. The distribution of <em>Aravana </em>was stopped on Wednesday afternoon following a High Court directive as pesticide presence was found in the cardamom used for the preparation. </p>
