Sabarimala: The clothes and the Irumudi | Explained - video Dailymotion

From why pilgrims dress in black or blue to what they carry in the Irumudi, the Sabarimala pilgrimage is packed with symbolism.

Transcript

00:00You see Superstar Mohanlal walking up the 18 sacred steps of Sabrimala?

00:08That's exactly how every Ayapa pilgrim goes. Barefoot, dressed in black or dark blue,

00:12with a cloth bundle on their head. And believe it or not, every part of what they wear has a story.

00:17The journey actually starts where before they set foot on the pilgrimage route. Pilgrims observe

00:24a 41-day vratam, a period of strict discipline. No meat, no alcohol, no smoking, no haircuts,

00:30no shaving. They wake up early, bathe twice a day and eat simple meals. The black or dark blue

00:35clothes, they reflect all of that. Focus, humility, detachment from the everyday hustle.

00:46Black is what you see the most, but dark blue carries a similar meaning too. Discipline,

00:49meditation and keeping the mind centered. And there's a practical side to it as well.

00:53Long ago, pilgrims walked barefoot through dense forests. Dark cotton clothes were modest,

00:59durable and easy to manage on a long trek. Over time, what is practical became part of the spiritual

01:04tradition.

01:09Then, there's the Irumudi Ketu, the bundle tied on their heads. It has two compartments,

01:14each with a purpose. The front holds offerings for Lord Ayapa, a coconut filled with ghee,

01:18some jaggery, honey and other ritual items used for the Abhishekam or the sacred bathing of the deity.

01:23That coconut filled with ghee, it's symbolic as it represents the devotees own body and soul,

01:28offered in devotion. The back compartment holds their personal essentials, like a little food

01:33or a change of clothes. Back in the day, when pilgrims trekked for days through forests,

01:37this was essential. Even now, it's a way of showing preparation and humility.

01:41Carrying the Irumudi on the head is not just about practicality, it's about surrender and focus.

01:50Only those who have observed the Vratam get to carry it and climb the 18 sacred steps, tying the inner

01:54discipline to the physical act of devotion. Pilgrims often wear a Rudraksha or Tulsi Mala also. And

02:00walking barefoot through forest paths, that's part of the discipline as well. When they reach the temple,

02:04those 18 steps mark the final ascent. Climbing them is a symbolic act, a transformation from the

02:10ordinary to the devoted. Of pilgrims dressed in black or dark blue, walking barefoot, carrying the

02:15Irumudi on their heads, wearing their mala, every little detail tells a story. The clothes, the bundle,

02:20the mala, the Vratam, the walk, all of it is a part of a centuries-old tradition of discipline,

02:25humility and devotion. I'm Anish Adhikari. Thank you for watching The Culture Project on More.