The Pilgrimage: Devotees undergo rigorous penance and austere living before starting on the pilgrimage. Regardless of caste, creed and colour they wear black dhoties and carry on their heads, bundles containing traditional offerings like coconuts filled with ghee, camphor and rice. The temple dome is covered with gold and the devotees break the coconuts before climbing the steps. Among the pilgrims, there are a few who are undertaking the pilgrimage for the first time while ther are a few who have been doing so for the past many years. The first timers are known as 'Kanni Swamis' and the leader of the group is known as 'Guru Swami' or the lead person of a team who is incharge of all the rituals. Devotees take a ritual bath while climbing up the hill in the holy river Pamba, which absolves one's sins. En route at Erumeli, in a supreme instance of communal harmony, they pay obeisance at the shrine of Vavar, a Muslim deity believed to be a close ally of Lord Ayyappa. To ease the ardour of the long trek through the forests to the temple at the peak of the Sabari Hills, devotees constantly chant the name of the holy one. No women in the fertility age group are allowed into the precincts of the shrine of the Lord who is considered to be an Eternal Bachelor.

Makar Villaku: One very important ceremony of Makara Villaku is the bringing of deity's jewellery, Thirivabharanam from the Pandalam Palace, three days prior to Makara Sankranthi. The sacred jewelry is kept in a box and is brought in a royal procession. Thousands of devotees line up on either side of the route for a glimpse of the box, which is carried by a priest, or oracle on his head. The oracle moves hysterically oblivious of the presence of thousands of people. He dances, but the box remains on his head as if it gets glued on his head. Procession halts at a few temples en route and reaches Sabaripettam in the evening of Makara Sankranthi. It then moves towards Sannidhanam amidst music, dazzling lights and lot of revelry. A strange phenomenon occurs at this time. A kite appears all of a sudden and starts hovering around the box. The incidence is well received by the devotees who get filled with joy.