All Ayyappas or Devotees or Swamis final frontier is the 18 steps of Sannidhanam the final flight of steps to reach the sacred shrine of Lord Ayyappa
Before climbing the steps you offer coconut to Lord Ayyappa by breaking the same at the footsteps of the gold plated 18 steps.
Once you have made your offering, you wash your feet and then stand in the queue to climb those famous Pathinettam padi. As you chant the name of the lord and move you are pulled by the Kerala Police volunteers as the steps are too steep for many and you do this 18 steps to reach lord Ayyappa in no time. At Sannidhanam you need to follow strict queue to get a glimpse of Swamy Ayyappan.
After having darshan you may relax in one of the guest houses which can be booked in advance or taken subject to availability. For advance booking of accommodation at Sabaraimala you need to get in touch the contacts mentioned in here.
The unlucky ones who are unable to get this down there is an open air shelter to take rest and get going
After resting you sit down at a place and open the “Irumudi kettu” and split the contents. The Nei Tenga or Coconut filled with ghee is broken and the Ghee shifted to a steel vessel for abhishekam.
The ghee is collected and sent for abhishekam and collected from the sannidhanam premises. The coconut kernals are burnt in the coconut burning pit in front of the sannidhanam
The other offerings carried in the kettu is transferred and offered to the various offer collection containers and temples at Malikappuram. Later you proceed to the prasadom collection center and buy the prasadom of your choice, also do shopping of your choice and begin your journey back.
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