GarryNeuhaus77 at 09:35, 14 January 2026

2026-01-14T09:35:16Z

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{{Short description|Star appearing at Sabarimala Temple}}
{{Other uses|Makar Sankranti}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2022}}

[[File:SabarimalaRush2010.JPG|thumb|Devotees gathering at Sabrimala sannidhanam to get a glimpse of ''divya Makara Jyothi'' around [[Makaravilakku]], in 2010]]
{{Hinduism}}
'''Makara Jyothi''' is the celestial star [[Sirius]] that can be seen above the secret fire lit event of [[Makaravilakku]] conducted by [[Travancore Devaswom Board|Travancore Devasom Board]] at [[ponnambalamedu]] near [[Sabarimala|Sabarimala Temple]] in [[Kerala]] on [[Makara Sankranti]] every year with the help of [[Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department|Forest department]], [[Kerala State Electricity Board|KSEB]] and [[Kerala Police|Kerala police]] and other agencies of [[Government of Kerala]]. When the fire is lit for 3 times by the [[Travancore Devaswom Board]] Team, the Sirus can be seen directly above it when viewed from [[Sabarimala Temple|Sabarimala]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2025-01-14 |title=Thousands Offer Prayers At Sabarimala On Makaravilakku Day |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!state/thousands-offer-prayers-at-sabarimala-on-makaravilakku-day-enn25011405141 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.ETLegalWorld.com |title=Kerala HC restricts access into Ponnambalamedu near Sabarimala, following recent incident of trespass - ET LegalWorld |url=https://legal.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/litigation/kerala-hc-restricts-access-into-ponnambalamedu-near-sabarimala-following-recent-incident-of-trespass/100483080 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=ETLegalWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>

Raman Nair, who headed the Devaswom Board under the Congress government said “It’s the police and officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board who would jointly light the fire at Ponnambalamedu on the orders of the state government.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaji |first=K. A. |date=2023-01-16 |title=The myth of Sabarimala's Makaravilakku is bust, but the controversy still rages on |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/kerala/the-myth-of-sabarimalas-makaravilakku-is-bust-but-the-controversy-over-it-still-rages-on/#:~:text=The%20South%20First-,The%20myth%20of%20Sabarimala's%20Makaravilakku%20is%20bust,%20but%20the%20controversy,on%20Ponnambalamedu%20hill%20is%20manmade. |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The South First |language=en}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
''Makara'' ({{langx|sa|मकर}}) is the name of a [[zodiac sign]] in Indian languages known as [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] in English. ''Jyoti'' means "light" in Sanskrit.

==Popularity of the ritual ==

The huge crowd of pilgrims that witnesses the event has increased every year.<ref name="Sight">{{cite news |url= http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/14/stories/2006011406820500.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080129221318/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/14/stories/2006011406820500.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 29 January 2008 |title=Sighting of 'Makarajothi' brings good luck and blessings | location=Chennai, India |work= [[The Hindu]] |date=14 January 2006}}</ref> It is believed that 1.5 million devotees witnessed ''Makara Jyoti'' in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=3449548&programId=1073754912&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@ |title=Pilgrims witness Makara Jyothi |publisher=Manorama Online}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=November 2023}} The revenue collection during the Makaravilakku period was also higher compared to previous years. The total donations were [[Indian Rupee|Rs.]]720 million in 2008 against previous year’s Rs.723 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/15/stories/2008011553760400.htm |title=Sabarimala revenue put at Rs.102.52 crore |location=Chennai, India |date=15 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118110549/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/15/stories/2008011553760400.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archivedate=18 January 2008 }}</ref>

==Sabarimala stampedes and authenticity debate==
{{Main|Makara Vilakku}}
In 1999 and 2011, two major human stampedes occurred on 14 January at Sabarimala, killing 53 and 106 people, respectively.<ref name="mathrubhumi1">{{cite news |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=103730 |title=Makarajyothi: Court intervening after 11 years |publisher=Mathrubhumi English |date=21 January 2011 |accessdate=2014-01-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201202106/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=103730 |archivedate=2014-02-01 }}</ref><ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sabarimalas-Makara-Jyothi-is-man-lit-TDB/articleshow/7397707.cms |title=Sabarimala's Makara Jyothi is man-lit: TDB |publisher=Times Of India |date=2011-01-31 |accessdate=2014-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=G. Mahadevan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sabarimala-stampede-toll-rises-to-102/article1094557.ece |title=Sabarimala stampede: toll rises to 102 |work=The Hindu |date=2011-01-15 |accessdate=2014-01-18}}</ref> In 1999 the Justice T Chandrasekhara Menon committee that investigated the stampede refrained from going into the details of authenticity of Makara Jyothi. It stated that Makara Jyothi is a matter of belief and could not be investigated. Justice Chanadrasekhara Menon had probed the veracity of Makara Jyoti during that time. He also appointed an advocate of the commission to witness it.<ref name="mathrubhumi1"/>

The 2011 stampede occurred during an annual pilgrimage, killing 102 pilgrims and injuring more than 100.{{Contradictory inline|date=November 2023}} Amid a renewed debate after this stampede, Kerala High Court wanted to know whether or not Makara Jyoti is a man-made phenomenon, asking about the authenticity of the hallowed celestial light visible from Sabarimala. "A distinction has to be made between the Makaravilakku and Makara Jyothi. The Jyothi is a celestial star. Makarvilakku is lit [by people]," said the head of the Thazamon Thanthri family, Kantararu Maheswararu.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-high-courts-poser-on-makarajyothi/article1105093.ece |title=Kerala High Court's poser on 'Makarajyothi' |work=The Hindu |date=2011-01-20 |accessdate=2014-01-18}}</ref> After this the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said that it was known to most believers that it was a man lit-fire, but there was a Hindu belief behind it. "It is known to everybody that Makara Vilakku is a fire lit up by men at Ponnabalamedu and TDB also recognises this. But Makara Jyothi is a celestial star", TDB President M Rajagoplan Nair told reporters on 31 January 2011.<ref name="indiatimes1"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://travancoredevaswomboard.org/ Official website of Travancore Devaswom Board]
* [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1167382 Clarification of the matter by Minister]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080601060130/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080051548 Minister G.Sudhakaran on Makara Vilakku / Makara Jyothi]

{{HinduFestivals}}

[[Category:Fire deities]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Kerala]]
[[Category:Festivals in Pathanamthitta district]]

Makara Jyothi - Revision history

GarryNeuhaus77 at 09:35, 14 January 2026