This pilgrimage to Sabarimala, in the mountains of Kerala takes place every year. They are devotees of Lord Ayappa. They go through a 41 day penance abstaining from sex, meat and intoxicationg drinks before undertaking the trek up the forested mountain chanting the celebrated three words "Samiye, Saranam Ayappa ( Oh lord Ayappa, I come to thee for refuge). The doors of the temple at Sabarimala are open to everyone irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Home going. Madurai. Tamil Nadu
Praying.Madurai. Tamil Nadu
Coconuts. Sabarimala. Kerala
A saddhu. Sabarimala
Palanquins. Sabarimala.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Temple. Sabarimala
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Resting. Sabarimala
Friday, November 03, 2006
Coconuts. Sabarimala
Water Squad. Sabarimala
Ouch.
Rushing up to Sabarimala
Ayappa pilgrim. Pampa
Ayappas. Madurai
Ayappa. Sabarimala
Start. Pampa
Ayappa . Tirupati
Bus. Pathanamthitta
Venkatesh. Chengannur
Pilgrims. Hampi
Ceremony. Sri Sailam
.
Still with the same group of pilgrims during the puja before they were leaving.. They were travelling by bus to a lot of sacred places in South India.
Sri sailam is one of the greatest Shivaite shrine in India and it constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingam shrines of Shiva.
It's really too bad you can't hear the singing.. SO beautiful..
here is a link to some Ayappa singing:
www.musicindiaonline.com/l/7/s/album.516/diety.6/
Posing. Sri Sailam
Those pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were coming to Sri Sailam to pray, on their way to Sabarimala .
They are devotees of Lord Ayappa. They go through a 41 day penance abstaining from sex, meat and intoxicationg drinks before undertaking the trek up the forested mountain chanting the celebrated three words "Samiye, Saranam Ayappa ( Oh lord Ayappa, I come to thee for refuge.)
Waiting for the train
Ayappa . Tirupati
Ayappa pilgrims waiting for their train in Tirupati train station. You can come across those pilgrims in Southern India from November to february.
The pilgrimage takes place in Sabarimala, Kerala. I went there in January. What they have on their head is called Irumudi, a holy bundle.
This was shot on december 1st.
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