Sabarimala Temple to Open on August 2 for Nira Puthari Puja

The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple will open on August 2 for the annual Nira Puthari Puja, a traditional ritual performed with freshly harvested paddy to pray for agricultural prosperity.

The Nira Puthari Puja 2026 will be held on August 3. The ritual is traditionally observed during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam and involves offering newly harvested paddy sheaves to Lord Ayyappa.

Sabarimala Temple Opens at 5 PM on August 2

Ahead of the Nira Puthari celebrations, the Sabarimala temple will open at 5 PM on August 2. No special pujas will be performed that evening.

The temple will reopen at 5 AM on August 3, following which the regular rituals will begin.

Nira Puthari Puja Timing

The Nira Puthari Puja will be performed between 5:40 AM and 6:20 AM on August 3.

As part of the traditional ceremony, freshly harvested paddy sheaves will be offered during the puja. After the rituals, the blessed paddy sheaves will be distributed to devotees as prasadam.

The temple will close at 10 PM on August 3 after the completion of the day`s rituals.