By IANS
Sabarimala (Kerala) : Ecstatic chants of “Swamiye Ayyappa” filled the air at Kerala’s famed Sabarimala temple as a record one million devotees witnessed the miracle ‘Makar jyoti’ light appear on the horizon Monday evening.
The miracle light appeared at 6.35 p.m. on the horizon thrice in the space of three minutes, and each time the devotees shouted “Swamiye Ayyappa” with joy as sighting the light is considered a blessing.
The crowds have been milling at the temple in Pathanamthita district for the last two days to witness the ‘jyoti’, which is the high point of the pilgrimage.
Senior Inspector General of Police Arun Kumar Sinha, camping at the temple, told IANS that every inch of space had been occupied at the temple hours in advance.
“The crowd this time is unprecedented. Approximately one million pilgrims are there, both at the base camp in Pamba and at the temple top. We had made all security arrangements for hassle-free darshan of the Makar jyoti,” said Sinha.
G. Sudhakaran, state Devasom minister, was present to see that the event passed off smoothly.
“The collection this time has crossed by Rs.10 million over the last season,” Sudhakaran told reporters at the temple top.