Mandala–Makaravilakku season: Sabarimala pilgrimage revenue touches ₹210 crore

With the ongoing Mandala–Makaravilakku season crossing the one-month mark, the total revenue generated so far during the Sabarimala pilgrimage has reached ₹210 crore, Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar said on Wednesday. Of this, ₹106 crore has been earned from the sale of Aravana prasadam (offering).

“Compared to previous years, there has been a substantial rise in revenue. This season has seen smooth darshan without major issues, and both devotees and the media have described it as a positive experience,” Jayakumar said.

Review meeting on December 26
The golden attire (Thanga Anki) to be adorned on the deity for the Mandala Pooja on December 27 will be taken to Sabarimala on December 26. A review meeting, chaired by Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan, will also be held on the same day.

Arrangements for the Makaravilakku season will be reviewed at the meeting, including issues related to pilgrims’ behaviour, camping in forest areas and the construction of temporary shelters. Safety measures will be discussed, as devotees often gather at specific locations to witness the Makaravilakku. Authorities have advised pilgrims to avoid viewing the sacred light from unsafe spots.

More facilities on forest routes
Additional facilities will be arranged for pilgrims using forest routes during the Makaravilakku season. Many devotees have been opting for the Sabarimala–Pulmedu route following reports of reduced spot booking.

This has led to elderly pilgrims and those with health conditions undertaking long and difficult treks. Authorities said greater awareness is needed among pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and those with health issues have been advised to avoid forest paths.

The Devaswom Board has reached an understanding with the police and forest departments to introduce special passes for pilgrims travelling through forest routes.

Flexible spot booking
Jayakumar said spot booking would be flexible, as permitted by the court, with decisions taken based on the number of pilgrims arriving each day. For now, the cap of 5,000 spot bookings will continue.

At present, devotees can have darshan without long waits. With more pilgrims arriving via forest routes, discussions are underway with the police to regulate movement. Talks have also been held with the forest department on issuing special passes for pilgrims using the Erumeli–Azhutha forest path. The aim, the president said, is to ensure maximum darshan opportunities without causing inconvenience to devotees.

Technology-driven pilgrimage planned
Preparations have begun to make the next pilgrimage season smoother. A detailed meeting on the Sabarimala Master Plan will be held at the Devaswom headquarters on Thursday.

Projects that can be completed within a year will be prioritised, while those planned for implementation during the 2026–27 season will also be reviewed. Funding options, including central government assistance and sponsorships, will be explored. Under the master plan, the construction of an additional Aravana plant could increase daily production to 4–5 lakh containers.

There are also plans to expand the use of technology in pilgrimage management. A technology master plan will be prepared in line with court directions, with possibilities such as using artificial intelligence and GPS systems to estimate travel time from Nilakkal to Pampa and queue waiting periods.