Following Kerala High Court's directive for better crowd management during festivals, authorities will limit Sannidhanam spot bookings to 5,000 pilgrims daily from 8-15 January
Published Jan 07, 2025 | 9:05 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 07, 2025 | 9:05 PM
Sabarimala shrine (picture courtesy - Sabarimala)
The Sabarimala temple, one of the most revered shrines in South India, is set to celebrate the Makaravilakku festival with robust crowd control measures. Lakhs of devotees from across the country, particularly Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are expected to converge on the hill shrine.
In line with the Kerala High Court’s directive to ensure efficient crowd management during festival seasons, authorities have decided to limit the spot booking facility at Sannidhanam to 5,000 pilgrims per day from 8 January to 15 January. The virtual queue system on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) website has been capped at 60,000 bookings on 12 January, 50,000 on 13 January, and 40,000 on 14 January, which is the day of the auspicious Makara Jyoti.
The High Court had recently expressed concerns over overcrowding after reviewing a report from the Sabarimala special commissioner.
The report highlighted crowd management challenges on 30 December when approximately 15,000 devotees used ‘facilitation cards’ to bypass the Nadappanthal queue and directly access Pathinettampadi (sacred 18 steps).
Following this, the court directed the issuance of such passes to be restricted to 5,000 pilgrims per day, limited to those who complete the 32-km-long traditional trekking route (Periya Patha).
The court also mandated that pilgrims be informed about this facility through public address systems at Sannidhanam. Additionally, the TDB, in consultation with the chief police coordinator and the special commissioner, has been asked to decide whether this facility should continue beyond 10 January.
To ensure smooth entry and safety, the police will conduct inspections at Nilakkal before permitting devotees to proceed to Pampa.
Strict guidelines will be implemented to regulate activities, including cooking, at parnasalas where devotees traditionally camp from 10 January in anticipation of the Makara Jyoti.
The ceremonial Thiruvabharanam (sacred jewellery) procession, a key tradition leading up to Makaravilakku, will commence on 12 January at 1 pm from the Valiya Koyikkal Temple in Pandalam, after devotees offer darshan.
The sacred ornaments will be carried to Sabarimala, stopping at several temples en route, before resting at Ayiroor Puthiyakavu temple that night.
Thiruvabharanam (file pic)
courtesy – Sabarimala
On 13 January, the procession will resume at 3 am, reaching Laha by 9 pm. On the festival day, 14 January, the procession will leave Laha and reach Sabarimala Sannidhanam by 5:30 pm via Pandithavalam, Cheriyanavattom, Neelimala, and Apachimedu.
Police have made extensive arrangements to ensure the safety of devotees along the procession route.
Since the commencement of the pilgrimage season on 15 November,2024, a record 39,02,610 devotees have visited Sabarimala as of 5 January,2025, compared to 35,12,691 during the same period last year. During the ongoing Makaravilakku season, which began on 30 December, 6,22,849 devotees have already visited the shrine.
Authorities have ramped up preparations to accommodate the anticipated surge in pilgrims. Special measures have been taken to manage the flow of devotees on Makara Jyoti day, with security arrangements in place at key locations to ensure a safe and seamless darshan experience.
The Travancore Devaswom Board and police authorities said that steps being implemented this year aim to enhance the pilgrimage experience while ensuring safety and crowd control.
(Edited by Ananya Rao).
