Makaravilakku is a seven-day annual festival of Kerala, which is held at Sabarimala temple on Makara Sankranti. On this day, the anniversary of the meeting of Lord Shri Rama with Sabari is celebrated.
The festival begins with the Thiruvabharanam procession (procession of ornaments) and ends with a ritual called 'Guruthi'. This ritual is performed to please the deities of the forest.
Makaravilakku is a light that is lit on the Ponnambalamedu hill. On this day Makarajyoti (celestial star) appears in the sky and it marks the transition of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn.
In the past, this festival was celebrated by the Malayaraya tribe, Who are considered descendants of the Malaiyaman kingdom of Ponnambalamedu.