Sabarimala (Kerala), Jan 14 (IANS) Nearly three million devotees Sunday gathered at the Sabarimala temple and had a sighting of Makar Jyothi, or celestial light, on the horizon on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, marking the finale of the three-month pilgrim season of the hill shrine.

As soon as the celestial light flickered on the horizon, the Sabari hills and the foothills at Pampa reverberated with chants of 'Sarana Mantram'.

Devotees carrying Irumudi on their heads thronged an area of nearly 10-km radius around the temple as they vied for a vantage point to witness the Jyothi and offer worship at the shrine on the auspicious occasion.

Chants of 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' rent the air as the Jyothi was sighted on the skies, above Ponnambalamedu, shortly after the rising of the Makar star.

The Sabarimala temple situated on the Western Ghat ranges at an altitude of 914 metres above the sea level and four km uphill from Pamba in Pathanamthitta district in central Kerala, is one of the most famous Hindu pilgrim centres in India. The number of pilgrims visiting the shrine has been going up every year.