Lord Ayyappan was a bramhachari ( Bachelor/ Celibate) and the devotees who visit him are mainly men. Women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the temple, since the story attributed to Ayyappa prohibits the entry of the women in the menstrual age group.
Devotees are expected to refrain from pleasures of life for some time before visiting him. As you decide to go you are supposed to wear a mala after getting a pooja done at the nearest Ayyappa temple. Once you have put on the mala you are supposed to take bath early morning and evening and visit the Ayyappa temple bare feet to pay your respects. Strict austere measures are to be followed like refraining from sex, non vegetarian food, spirits , tobacco or any non basic acts. Sabarimala temple is open during specific dates and timings, one needs to programme the travel accordingly.
On the day of travel you prepare a cloth bag with two distinct pouches on either side called the “Irumudi Kettu” which basically carries the offerings to lord Ayyappa. This Irumudi Kettu is prepared in a small ceremony by experienced hands and contains rawa rice, cleaned coconut filled with ghee, bhasmam, incense sticks, coins, camphor, turmeric powder, puffed rice, raw cleaned coconut, jaggery etc. This Irumudi kettu once ready is placed on the head of the devotee and he then carries it to Sabarimala upto Sannidhanam where it is opened and offerings placed at designated points.
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