Police Advise TDB to Suspend Spot Booking on Makaravilakku Day
To prevent overcrowding during the Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala, the police have asked the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to suspend spot-booking facility for pilgrims on the Makaravilakku Day.
- Halting spot bookings: Police aim to suspend spot bookings to better control crowd movement.
- Checkpoint at Nilackal: Suspension will allow the police to establish a checkpoint at Nilackal for better control over the flow of devotees to Pampa.
- Sabarimala Hill ascent restriction: Pilgrims will only be allowed to ascend the hill after the procession of the Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam is concluded.
- Collaboration
with departments: Police will work with other departments to enforce
regulations.
- Enforcement of rules: Restrictions will be placed on activities such as cooking and other personal practices by devotees camping on the hill.
- Security measures: Special arrangements will be made at key places for viewing the Holy Makara Jyothi.
- Traffic control: Traffic to Sabarimala will be closely monitored and controlled in the lead-up to the Makaravilakku Mahotsavam festival.
- Daily booking limits: The TDB has set limits on daily bookings via the virtual queue system on the official website.
- Booking limits: Online Virtual Q
- 60,000 bookings for January 12
- 50,000 bookings for January 13
- 40,000 bookings for January 14
- Total visits as of January 5: 39.02 lakh devotees have visited the Ayyappa temple.
- Comparison with last season: This is an increase from 35.12 lakh during the same period last season.
- Visits from December 30 to January 5: 6.22 lakh pilgrims visited the temple following its reopening.
