To keep the human traffic organized, Ayyappan devotees reserve and are assigned a pilgrimage day from one of the 51 days of pilgrimage, and each day sees over 100,000 walking pilgrims. Girls and older women are welcome and join the journey with men, but women between the ages of 10-50 are strictly prohibited in sabarimala. Because of the belief that Lord Ayyappan is a Brahmachari (celibate) deity. The devotees wear simple dress on the day of the pilgrimage up the hills and through the forest, many go barefoot, carry "irumudi" (a walking stick for regional Hindu yogis with two compartment little bag sometimes carried on head), wear Tulasi leaves and Rudraksha beads around their neck (symbolism for Vishnu and Shiva) while fellow Hindus gather along the trek path, cheering and helping them complete their journey. For the Ayyappan pilgrims, states E. Valentine Daniel, the pilgrimage is a part of their spiritual journey.