Devotees intending to go on Sabarimala pilgrimage are to observe vratha (austerity) for 41 days for darsanam during the Mandala puja at Sabarimala. Mandala pooja means pooja done for the period of a Mandala. A Mandala is of 41 days. Normally Sabarimala temple is open only for 5 days from the 1st of each of the Malayalam calendar months. Apart from these poojas there will be occasions like the major festivals of Kerala when puja is conducted during the festival period. The only occasion when the temple is open continuously for a long period of days is during the Mandala puja.