TDB Starts Early Preparations for 2026–27 Sabarimala Season with Comprehensive Plan
A separate Budget will be prepared only for the festival, apart from the TDB’s regular Budget. Special training will be given in August and September to all Devaswom employees assigned for Sabarimala duty.
The Travancore Devaswom Board is planning major improvements for the Sabarimala pilgrimage. A meeting was held at the Board headquarters to review the last Mandala–Makaravilakku festival and to begin preparations for the 2026–27 season.
The Festival Control Office for the next Mandala–Makaravilakku season will start working at Pamba from April itself. A separate budget will be created only for the Sabarimala festival. The Board also decided that the festival accounts will be checked and audited in real time by a chartered accountant.
Board President K. Jayakumar presented a new plan for the next pilgrimage season. The plan focuses on five main areas: security, cleanliness, devotee services, better facilities and atmosphere, and communication and public relations.
Top priority will be given to services for devotees. Cleaning and sanitation will be maintained at a professional level. All Devaswom staff assigned to Sabarimala duty will receive special training during August and September. More technology will be used for crowd control and pilgrim safety.
Apart from the Board’s regular budget, there will be a special budget just for the Sabarimala festival. The new plan also says that all repair and maintenance work must be finished at least one month before the festival begins. Free mobile charging points will also be set up at different places in Sannidhanam for devotees.
Board members Adv. K. Raju and Adv. P.D. Santhosh Kumar, Board Secretary P.N. Ganeshwaran Potti, Vigilance and Chief Security Officer V. Sunil Kumar IPS, Chief Engineer Ranjith K. Shekhar, Sabarimala Executive Officer O.G. Biju, and others attended the review meeting.