Lakhs of pilgrims converge at the holy shrine to watch the 'Makarajyothi', a bright flame that flickers three times on a remote hillside of Ponnambalamedu, every year and the number of devotees keeping growing each pilgrimage season.
On Jan 14, 1952, 66 Ayyappa pilgrims were burnt to death when two cracker sheds caught fire.
On the same day in 1999, 52 pilgrims were killed following a stampede while they were returning after witnessing the 'Makarajyothi' at Pampa.
