TDB to restrict crowds at Sabarimala for Makaravilakku

In a bid to regulate the crowd at Sabarimala during the Makaravilakku festival, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to impose a cap on the number of devotees allowed to ascend the hillock on January 13 and 14.

According to P.S. Prashanth, president, TDB, only 50,000 devotees will be permitted through the virtual queue on January 13 while the ceiling will be brought down further to 40,000 the next day. The number of spot bookings during this period will be restricted to 5,000 a day.

The authorities have announced restrictions along similar lines at Sabarimala for December 25 and 26 as well.

As per estimates, 30.87 lakh pilgrims visited the temple till December 23, a rise of 4.45 lakh compared to the previous season.

Mr. Prashanth also announced plans to establish a solar power station at Sabarimala to achieve self-sufficiency in power generation. The board has been holding consultations with Cochin International Airport Limited to draft a detailed plan, while agencies such as the Federal Bank have expressed interest in sponsoring the project. Solar power plants are also planned for 26 other temples under the board’s administration.

Meanwhile, infrastructure at the Nilackal base camp has been improved with the completion of three of the seven buildings funded by the Kerala Infrastructure and Investment Fund Board. Each three-storeyed building can accommodate 2,200 devotees at a time. Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan will inaugurate these facilities at 4 p.m. on December 26.

The TDB is also reviving the Pampa Sangamam, an annual spiritual and cultural gathering that was discontinued after the devastating floods in 2018. It will be held on January 12. Actor Jayaram will be the chief guest this time.

The Board has invited expressions of interest for manufacturing gold lockets of Lord Ayyappa weighing 2, 4, 6, and 8 grams. These lockets, introduced to commemorate the Makaravilakku festival, will be officially released by the Devaswom Minister during the Harivarasanam Award ceremony on January 14.