Pilgrims waited for 12hrs hours despite spot booking reduced to 5000
Challenges and Measures During Makaravilakku Season
Reduction in Spot Booking
Numbers
- Despite
reducing the number of pilgrims through spot booking, the waiting time
for climbing the 18 holy steps remains long.
- Spot
bookings at Sabarimala are limited to 5,000 pilgrims per day from January
8 to January 15.
o January
14 (Makaravilakku Day): spot- bookings capped at 1,000.
o The
restriction follows a directive from the Kerala High Court to
prevent overcrowding and ensure efficient crowd management.
- The
slow pace of climbing the steps is cited as the main reason for the
delay.
- Pilgrims
reportedly waited more than 12 hours to ascend the holy steps yesterday.
Adjustments in Spot Booking
Quotas
- Previously,
22,000 to 25,000 pilgrims were allowed daily through spot booking.
- To
manage the crowd, the quota was reduced to 5,000 from yesterday.
Congestion at Entry Points
- When
the temple opened at 3 AM yesterday, pilgrims were seen queuing from
Pampa Manappuram to the small bridge near Triveni.
- The
police strengthened the verification process for virtual queue and spot
booking passes due to the Makaravilakku rush.
- Pilgrims
without passes were turned back from Nilakkal as per police instructions.
Relocation of Spot Booking
Counters
- To
facilitate better crowd management, new spot booking counters are being
set up at Nilakkal.
- Of
the seven counters at Pampa, three are being relocated to Nilakkal.
Temporary Restrictions at
Nilakkal
- During
peak hours on Tuesday night, pilgrims were held for several hours at the
Nilakkal base camp to manage the influx.
- All
vehicles were directed to park at the Nilakkal tower parking ground, and
access to Pampa was permitted only after hours of waiting.
Increase in Pilgrims on
Traditional Forest Route
- Thousands
of pilgrims are arriving on foot via the traditional
Erumeli-Pettathullal-Karimala route.
- Compared
to previous years, the traffic on this forest path has significantly
increased.
High Court Directions on Crowd
Management
- The
Kerala High Court directed authorities to deliberate and implement
stricter controls on spot booking during the Makaravilakku season.
- It
also instructed authorities to ensure that pilgrims are informed about
all restrictions and arrangements clearly.
Overcrowding at Sannidhanam
- A
significant number of pilgrims are staying back at Sannidhanam after
offering prayers, contributing to the congestion.
- Concerns
have been raised about the increased number of pilgrims arriving through
the traditional forest route.
Decision Pending on Stricter
Controls
- A
division bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice S.
Muraleedharan is evaluating whether stricter measures are required to
manage the situation.
