The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku season at Kerala's Sabarimala temple will begin on November 16 at 5 pm this year. The two-month-long season will run until January 20, 2026. The Mandala Pooja Maholsavam's temple closing is on December 27, and the 'Thirunada Opening' ceremony will be on December 30. Makaravilakku will be on January 14 at 5 pm.  

Special trains
The Indian Railways has announced that 415 special trains would run during the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season. A few trains have been scheduled via Kottayam and Punalur this year, too. Most trains would start service from Chennai, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam. Secunderabad, Nanded, Lokmanyatilak, Hubbali and Tambaram. There will also be special trains from Egmore at 11.55 pm, arriving in Kollam at 4.30 pm, on all Fridays from November 14 to January 16.

sabarimala-temple
The Mandala Pooja Maholsavam's temple closing is on December 27 and the 'Thirunada Opening' ceremony will be on December 30. Photo: Manorama

The return services will be on Saturdays at 7.35 pm. It will reach Egmore the next day at 12.30 pm. The special train from Chennai Central will run on Saturdays from November 16 to January 24, and on all Sundays, Saturdays, and Thursdays. The train will leave Chennai Central at 11.50 pm and reach Kollam at 4.30 pm the next day. The return services will operate on Fridays and Mondays at 6.30 pm, arriving in Chennai at 11.30 am. The trains will stop at Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kayamkulam. 

Online booking begins
To book accommodation and pujas, log in through the Travancore Devaswom Board website.  To book virtual queues, log in here. Around 70,000 devotees can book their slots via the queue. 
Real-time booking
Real-time booking centres will be set up in Erumeli, Nilakkal, Vandiperiyar Sathram and Pampa. A maximum of 20,000 pilgrims will be allowed via this facility. 

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