Pathanamthitta, Tuesday, January 11, 2011: Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar, who is also the government chief coordinator at Sabarimala, held separate meetings with officials at Pampa and the Sannidhanam to review the arrangements for the Makaravilakku festival on January 14.

Jayakumar said effective coordination among departments, Central forces like the National Disaster Response Force and the Rapid Action Force and TDB departments was a must for the smooth conduct of the pilgrim season.

He said expertise of the Central forces, especially the NDRF, would be utilised during the rush days of the pilgrim season. He said the high power committee for implementing the Sabarimala master plan would launch the Nilackal base camp development on a priority basis, immediately after the culmination of the pilgrim season.

Makarajyoti, a celestial star, will rise on the eastern horizon of the Sannidhanam, followed by the flickering of a bright flame thrice on a distant hilltop after the Deeparadhana. A Kalabhabhishekom marking the culmination of the Neyyabhishekom offering during the Makaravilakku festival will be performed prior to the Utchapuja on January 18.

The Guruti ritual to propitiate the ‘Bhoothagana’ of Lord Ayyappa will be performed at Malikappuram on January 19 evening. The Ayyappa temple will be closed after the exclusive customary holy darshan by the royal representative at 7 a.m. on January 20.

The KSRTC will ply 1000 buses in various parts of the state on January 14, the Makaravilakku day. Of these, 650 will be long route services while 350 will be used for chain service on the Pamba-Nilakkal route, Pamba Special Officer Easter Yashikaan said.

The services will begin from January 14 after the sighting of the ‘Makaravilakku,’ he said.

On the day, the buses will ply to all major centers in the state such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kottarakkara, Kumaly, Kottayam, Chenganoor, Ernakulam and Guruvayur, he added.