Sabarimala records 69,295 pilgrims on Sunday; cops launch safety armbands for kids

The heavy flow of pilgrims to Sabarimala continues, with thousands arriving daily for darshan. As of 7 pm on Sunday, 69,295 devotees had climbed the hill. The total number of pilgrims this season has now crossed 6.5 lakh.

To manage the rush, authorities have increased spot booking slots. The Kerala High Court had earlier permitted flexible spot booking based on the daily crowd. The Travancore Devaswom Board and the police assess the rush at each interval before approving spot bookings.

According to official figures, 11,516 pilgrims reached Sabarimala on Sunday using spot bookings from Nilakkal and Vandiperiyar. Officials said all arrangements are in place at Sabarimala and surrounding centres to ensure smooth darshan.

Meanwhile, police have introduced a safety armband for children to prevent them from getting lost in the crowd. The band is given to all children below the age of ten at Pamba, and contains the child’s name and the mobile number of the accompanying guardian. A QR code with the child’s full details is also included.

Police said the armband will help them quickly trace parents if a child is separated. Pilgrims have been requested not to remove the band until they complete the pilgrimage and return to their vehicle.

The Mandala-Makaravilakku season, which began on November 16, will conclude in January.