Thousands of pilgrims thronged the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Saturday. They came to witness the Mandala puja. This event marks the end of the 41-day first leg of the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The holy Mandala puja was held between 10:10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The temple's head priest, Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, performed the rituals. He dressed the deity in “Thanka Anki,” a sacred golden attire. This attire was brought to the temple on Friday evening in a ceremonial procession. Long queues formed early in the morning outside the Sannidhanam. Pilgrims from different states wore traditional black clothes and carried “Irumudikettu” (a sacred bundle) on their heads. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said the temple will close at 10 p.m. after the singing of Harivarasanam, a lullaby to Lord Ayyappa. This marks the end of the Mandala puja season. The temple will reopen at 5 p.m. on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival, the TDB added.