Over 33 lakh pilgrims visited Sabarimala till Dec 26; Mandala season to end today

Thiruvananthapuram: As the Mandala pilgrimage season in Sabarimala comes to a close on Saturday, Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan said that more than 33 lakh pilgrims visited the Ayyappa shrine till December 26. He briefed the media on Friday after a meeting to discuss preparations for the upcoming Makaravilakku season.

The temple will close on Saturday at 10 pm after the Mandala puja and Bhasmabhishekam of Lord Ayyappa. The Makaravilakku festival season will commence on December 30 with the reopening of the temple at 5 pm. The Makaravilakku festival falls on January 14.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has made elaborate arrangements for the Makaravilakku season, the minister said. He added that arrangements would be coordinated across departments to ensure effective crowd management, safety, sanitation, and transportation.

According to the minister, spot booking has been capped at 5,000, while virtual queue bookings are limited to 70,000, as directed by the Kerala High Court. Authorities have also decided to take measures to prevent crowding and ensure a smooth darshan experience, reiterating that no pilgrim would be denied darshan.

Safety and crowd control
Stampede prevention remains a priority during the season, said the minister. More police personnel will be deployed across key points, including the holy steps, trekking routes, and base camps. Special passes will be mandatory for viewing the Makaravilakku, with clearly designated viewpoints to discourage pilgrims from climbing trees or unsafe structures.

Pilgrims camping on the premises of the temple have been restricted from cooking, and food will be provided to them to avoid fire hazards.

The minister also said that the assistance of the Forest Department would be sought to prepare the forest path for the Thiruvabharanam procession from Pandalam. The Amabalapuzha and Alangad teams will participate in Erumeli Petta Thullal on January 11. The TDB has directed Kottayam district authority to make arrangements for their accommodation at Erumeli. 

Parking facilities will be expanded and streamlined, while over 800 KSRTC buses will operate special services to manage the heavy inflow of devotees. Vehicles from Tamil Nadu will have parking facilities at Kumily. 

In a major announcement, the minister said sanitation workers will receive a pay hike in recognition of their work during the festival season.

Briefing the media, the minister stressed that coordinated efforts are underway across departments to ensure a safe, orderly, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage during the Makaravilakku season.