Sabarimala: 14 Locations at Sannidhanam for Makara Jyothi Darshan
At Sannidhanam, 14 locations have been identified for devotees to witness the Makara Jyothi. Facilities have also been arranged for Jyothi Darshan at seven locations outside Sabarimala. The Makara Jyothi lit by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) appears on the evening of the 14th at Ponnambalamedu (Ayyappa Moolasthanam) during the Deeparadhana, when the Thiruvabharanam is adorned on Lord Ayyappa. As the largest number of pilgrims arrive for the Makara Jyothi Darshan, all safety arrangements must be prepared in advance at these centres.
At Sannidhanam, uninterrupted viewing of the Jyothi is possible from the following locations: Thirumuttam, Malikappuram Temple, Annadanam Mandapam, Pandithavalam, Donor House courtyard, incinerator area, Pandithavalam water reservoir, the spacious ground behind the hotel complex, Darshan Complex premises, opposite the BSNL office, Koprakkalam, Aazhi surroundings, Jyothinagar, Forest Office premises, and Water Authority Office premises.
The Pandithavalam area at Sannidhanam accommodates the largest number of pilgrims. Facilities for food, drinking water, toilets, and barricades for crowd control will be arranged here.
At Pampa, facilities for Makara Jyothi Darshan are available only at the Hilltop. For this purpose, all vehicles will be removed from the parking ground. In the background of the Hilltop tragedy that claimed 54 lives, special security arrangements will be made here.
Outside Sabarimala, facilities for Makara Jyothi Darshan are available at Attathodu, Angamoozhi–Panjippara, Elavunkal, Nellimala, and in Idukki district at Pulmedu, Parunthumpara, and Panchalimedu. At Attathodu, facilities are available in both the eastern colony and the western colony.
At Angamoozhi–Panjippara, 1,000 pilgrims can sit and view the Jyothi. At Elavunkal, 1,000 people can sit and view the Jyothi. These facilities are arranged by clearing forest areas and setting up barricades. At Nellimala, 800 pilgrims can sit and view the Jyothi.
Pulmedu, Parunthumpara, and Panchalimedu are located in Idukki district. Pulmedu can be reached from Vandiperiyar on the Kottayam–Kumily route via Vallakkadavu and Kozhikanam, and also via the Vandiperiyar Satra route. Since Pulmedu is a forest area, the lack of lighting is the main problem.
Along the approximately 11-kilometre forest road from Vallakkadavu Fourth Mile Junction (Kozhikanam) to the Pulmedu viewpoint, and along the one-kilometre stretch near the KSRTC parking area on the Kozhikanam–Gavi route, lighting arrangements must be provided using generators. On the Kumily–Kozhikanam route, 50 KSRTC buses will be arranged.
Parunthumpara can be reached by turning at Kallar Junction on the Kottayam–Kumily route, about 3 kilometres from Kallar Junction. Facilities must be arranged for pilgrims here. Panchalimedu can be reached by turning at Murinjapuzha, between Peruvanthanam and Kuttikanam, on the Kottayam–Kumily route. It is about 4 kilometres from Murinjapuzha.