Devotee Deluge: Managing the Massive Crowds at Sabarimala

The annual 'mandala-makaravilakku' pilgrimage at Sabarimala has seen an overwhelming number of devotees, with issues of line-cutting and water scarcity reported. The Travancore Devaswom Board has deployed additional personnel to address these concerns and ensure orderly conduct, including plans to manage and restrict crowds at entry points.

The annual 'mandala-makaravilakku' pilgrimage at Sabarimala has drawn an impressive number of devotees, resulting in significant logistical challenges. Reports of long queues and water shortages have surfaced as lakhs of pilgrims congregate at the shrine.

Addressing the situation, newly appointed Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar announced the deployment of 200 additional personnel. Their task is to distribute water to devotees standing in line for extended periods. Measures are also in place to ensure orderly access to the shrine's sacred 18 steps, preventing line-cutting and bottlenecks.

Concerned about the crowd's density, Jayakumar proposed redirecting pilgrims to Nilakkal to alleviate congestion at Pamba. Additional spot booking counters will be set up at Nilakkal, and a potential cap on daily bookings may be implemented. Despite the challenges, nearly two lakh devotees have visited the temple since it opened on November 16, marking the start of the pilgrimage season.