What is Ayyappa Padi Pooja?
The 18 steps represent the 18 hills around Sabarimala and the qualities a devotee must cross. A guru swamy or pandit lights camphor on each step while the devotees sing the Ayyappa sharanam; Irumudi kattu (packing the sacred bundle) is often done the same day.
The story of Ayyappa Padi Pooja
What is Ayyappa Padi Pooja?
Ayyappa Padi Pooja is the worship of Lord Ayyappa on a decorated 18-step (padi) altar, with deeparadhana on each step, bhajans and harathi, held by Ayyappa devotees (swamis) during the Mandala season before their Sabarimala yatra.
The 18 steps represent the 18 hills around Sabarimala and the qualities a devotee must cross. A guru swamy or pandit lights camphor on each step while the devotees sing the Ayyappa sharanam; Irumudi kattu (packing the sacred bundle) is often done the same day.
Benefits
- Blessings of Lord Ayyappa for the yatra
- Discipline and devotion of the 41-day vratham
- Peace and protection for the family
When to perform
- Mandala season — Karthika to Makaram (mid-November to January)
- Before leaving for Sabarimala
How Ayyappa Padi Pooja is performed
- Ganapati pooja and sankalpam
- Ayyappa avahanam and abhishekam
- Padi pooja — deeparadhana on each of the 18 steps
- Ayyappa bhajans and sharanam
- Harivarasanam and harathi
- Prasadam
Benefits and best time for Ayyappa Padi Pooja
Benefits
- Blessings of Lord Ayyappa for the yatra
- Discipline and devotion of the 41-day vratham
- Peace and protection for the family
When to perform
- Mandala season — Karthika to Makaram (mid-November to January)
- Before leaving for Sabarimala
Ayyappa Padi Pooja vidhi (step by step)
- 1Ganapati pooja and sankalpam
- 2Ayyappa avahanam and abhishekam
- 3Padi pooja — deeparadhana on each of the 18 steps
- 4Ayyappa bhajans and sharanam
- 5Harivarasanam and harathi
- 6Prasadam
Ayyappa Padi Pooja samagri list
- 18-step padi (wooden or decorated)
- Ayyappa idol or picture
- Camphor, ghee and oil lamps
- Flowers and garlands for 18 steps
- Coconuts and fruits
- Aravana or payasam for prasadam
Your pandit confirms the exact list after booking; you can add a Stuti Mandir samagri kit to your order.
Ayyappa Padi Pooja across India’s traditions
Telugu tradition
Telugu Ayyappa swamis hold padi pooja at home or in the colony with bhajans late into the night, and break their vratham after the yatra.
Tamil tradition
Tamil devotees hold padi pooja with Ayyappan bhajans and annadanam during Karthigai and Margazhi.
Kannada tradition
Karnataka devotees hold padi pooja before the yatra, with the guru swamy tying the irumudi.
Malayalam tradition
In Kerala padi pooja follows the Sabarimala temple’s tradition, ending with Harivarasanam.
Book Ayyappa Padi Pooja in your city
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
- Visakhapatnam
- Vijayawada
- Guntur
- Tirupati
- Nellore
- Kurnool
- Kadapa
- Anantapur
- Rajahmundry
- Kakinada
- Eluru
- Ongole
- Srikakulam
- Vizianagaram
- Chittoor
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Why book Ayyappa Padi Pooja with Stuti Mandir
Verified pandits
Every pandit’s profile is reviewed and approved by Stuti Mandir before they can take bookings. See their languages and experience before you choose.
Price shown upfront
Dakshina, fees and taxes are itemised before you pay, so there is no haggling on the day.
Live pandit tracking
Follow your pandit on a live map from the moment they start their journey, just like a delivery app.
OTP-verified pooja
You confirm the pandit’s arrival and the pooja’s completion with one-time codes.
Your language, your tradition
Choose a pandit who speaks your language and follows your family’s customs.
Samagri made easy
Get the full samagri list after booking, or add a samagri kit to your order.
How to book Ayyappa Padi Pooja
- 1
Choose Ayyappa Padi Pooja and a verified pandit — compare their languages, experience and price.
- 2
Pick a date and time slot and add any muhurtham preference.
- 3
Pay securely online (UPI, cards, net banking), or choose pay-after-pooja where it is offered.
- 4
On the day, track your pandit live, confirm their arrival with an OTP, and share the completion code once the pooja is done.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ayyappa Padi Pooja cost?
On Stuti Mandir, Ayyappa Padi Pooja starts from ₹8,100 as pandit dakshina for 1 to 2 pandits. The final price depends on your city, the pandit you choose, samagri and express booking, and is shown in full before you pay.
How long does Ayyappa Padi Pooja take?
About 3 to 4 hours (evening), performed by 1 to 2 pandits.
When is Padi Pooja done?
During the Mandala season (mid-November to January), usually in the evening before the Sabarimala yatra.
Can you arrange the padi and bhajan team?
Tell us when booking; our pandit can suggest a padi and bhajan group near you.
Can I book a pandit who speaks my language for Ayyappa Padi Pooja?
Yes. Stuti Mandir has Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia-speaking pandits, depending on the city; each pandit’s languages are shown on their profile.
In which cities can I book Ayyappa Padi Pooja?
Ayyappa Padi Pooja can be booked in 37 cities including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Visakhapatnam. Choose your city below for local details.