The Makaravilakku festival, held on Makar Sankranti at the Sabarimala shrine, is celebrated in which state?

Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makar Sankranti (mid-January) at the Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa, in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. It marks the end of the main pilgrimage season of Sabarimala, which begins in November.

On the evening of Makaravilakku, two important events take place. First, the Thiruvabharanam (the sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa) are brought in a procession from the Pandalam palace, associated with the royal family that is believed to have adopted Ayyappa as a child, and are used to adorn the deity. At the time of the evening aarti, a light, called the Makaravilakku, appears three times on the Ponnambalamedu hill, opposite the temple. At the same time, a bright star, called the Makara Jyothi, is seen in the sky. Lakhs of pilgrims gather around the temple and the surrounding hills to see the light, which they regard as a divine blessing.

The Sabarimala temple is situated on a hilltop in the Western Ghats, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Lord Ayyappa is believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini (Vishnu in female form). Pilgrims observe a strict 41-day vrata (penance) before the pilgrimage, wearing black or blue clothes, following a vegetarian diet and living simply. They carry the "irumudi", a bundle of offerings, on their heads, and climb the 18 sacred steps (Pathinettam Padi) to the shrine, chanting "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa". The temple is visited by crores of pilgrims each year.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal at the same time of year.
• ✗Karnataka celebrates Makara Sankranti with "ellu-bella".
• ✗Andhra Pradesh celebrates Sankranti as Pedda Panduga.