Amid a rise in pilgrim numbers, the TDB extends Sabarimala Temple's darshan period by an additional hour

Amid a surge in pilgrim numbers at Sabarimala Temple's Mandalam-Makaravilakkku pilgrimage, the Travancore Devaswom Board extended darshan hours from 3 pm to 11 pm. Concerns linger over inadequate facilities despite Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan highlighting prolonged waiting times and insufficient police presence. IG Sparjan Kumar suggested restricting daily entries to 75,000 due to overwhelming bookings.

Image Source -www.thefederal.com

The Sabarimala Temple, managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), has undergone significant changes in its darshan timings owing to an unexpected surge in the number of devotees flocking to the shrine. As the Mandalam-Makaravilakkku pilgrimage commenced on November 16, coinciding with the auspicious Malayalam month of Vrichikam, the temple witnessed an unprecedented influx of pilgrims.

To accommodate the swelling crowds, the TDB made a critical decision to extend the darshan hours by an additional hour each day. Previously scheduled from 4 pm to 11 pm, the darshan timings were adjusted to start at 3 pm, allowing devotees an extended window until 11 pm to have their darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

This modification in the temple's schedule comes as a response to the increasing grievances raised by devotees regarding the prolonged waiting times and inadequate facilities. Several pilgrims reported enduring lengthy queues, waiting for darshan for as long as 15 to 20 hours without access to basic amenities like water.

V D Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, strongly criticized the temple management, citing insufficient arrangements and a lack of police presence. He pointed out that the guidelines set by the Kerala High Court for the comfort and safety of pilgrims were not being adequately followed. Furthermore, he highlighted the absence of adequate ambulance services, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of devotees.

The security arrangements at Sabarimala, overseen by IG Sparjan Kumar, faced challenges in managing the sheer number of pilgrims. With approximately 90,000 bookings made through the virtual queue and an additional 30,000 through spot bookings daily, the influx far exceeded the anticipated numbers. This surge included a diverse demographic mix, including more women, children, and elderly devotees, making it difficult to facilitate their swift ascent up the Pathinettampadi (18 divine steps).

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To ensure the safety and orderly conduct of the pilgrimage, the government introduced a dynamic queue-control system at 'sannidhanam', the sacred area around the main temple. This measure aimed to manage the overcrowding and streamline the darshan process while maintaining the sanctity and security of the pilgrimage.

The changes in darshan timings and the implementation of crowd-control measures reflect the concerted efforts to address the challenges arising from the overwhelming turnout of devotees at the Sabarimala Temple during this pilgrimage season.