The ornaments are kept at Valiyakoickal temple in Pandalam, the town of the king who found the child by the river. Each January they leave in three sandalwood boxes carried on the heads of bearers and walk three days through the hills to Sabarimala. Earlier, at Erumely, the pilgrims have danced the Petta Thullal and been received at the mosque of Vavar. On Makaravilakku the god is dressed in the gold, and a light is lit on the hill of Ponnambalamedu; the Devaswom Board told the High Court in 2011 that people light it.
Three-day Thiruvabharanam procession begins (New Indian Express, 13 January 2026); Erumely Petta Thullal held with ritualistic fervour (The Hindu, 11 January 2022); Makara Vilakku is man-made: TDB (New Indian Express, 26 April 2011); About Lord Ayyappa (Sabarimala, Government of Kerala)
Sources: Three-day Thiruvabharanam procession begins (New Indian Express, 13 January 2026); Erumely Petta Thullal held with ritualistic fervour (The Hindu, 11 January 2022); Makara Vilakku is man-made: TDB (New Indian Express, 26 April 2011); About Lord Ayyappa (Sabarimala, Government of Kerala)
Kerala's Ayyappa, born of Shiva and Mohini, grows up in Pandalam, defeats the demoness Mahishi and keeps a Muslim companion whose mosque still faces his temple at Erumely.
Brahma's boon to Mahishi — that only a child of Vishnu and Shiva can kill her — forces Vishnu to take the Mohini form; Shiva's desire for Mohini yields a son, found and raised by the king of Pandalam, who kills Mahishi and takes his seat at Sabarimala.
Vishnu as the enchantress Mohini dances a demon into touching his own head, and in Kerala tradition bears Shiva's son Ayyappa; the full record is I-4 in the interactions file.