Spot Booking Counters Shifted to nilakkal: Makaravilakku Restrictions Updates
As part of the preparations for the upcoming Makaravilakku festival, the Spot booking counters for Sabarimala devotees have been relocated from Pamba to Nilackal. Sabarimala ADM Arun S. Nair announced that 10 counters will be operational at Nilackal. Devotees who have not booked their slots through the virtual queue system must get Down at Nilakkal to book their slots via the spot booking system.
Spot bookings at Sabarimala are limited to 5,000 pilgrims per day from January 8 to January 15.
January 14 (Makaravilakku Day): spot- bookings capped at 1,000.
Vehicle parking arrangements have also been updated for the festival.
Parking at Pamba hilltop will be prohibited from 8 a.m. on January 12 to 2 p.m on January 15. During this period, only emergency vehicles and KSRTC buses transporting devotees after witnessing the Makaravilakku will be allowed. Pilgrims' vehicles can be parked at designated facilities in Chalakkayam and Nilackal.
To manage the rush along the forest path, only members of the Ambalappuzha and Alangad Petta groups will be permitted to use the forest route via Mukkuzhy from January 11 to 14. Other devotees using this path must arrive at Pamba and proceed to Sannidhanam.
Additionally, cooking at Sannidhanam and its premises is strictly prohibited. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is providing free food for devotees, and cooking cylinders are not allowed. In preparation for the festival, KSRTC has deployed 800 buses.
The Erumely Petta Thullal will take place on January 11, with Makaravilakku on January 14. The temple will close on January 20 after the festival.
Meanwhile, TDB President P.S. Prasanth inaugurated the Devaswom Vigilance Control Room in Sabarimala on Thursday. Devaswom vigilance has installed 245 surveillance cameras from Marakoottam to Sannidhanam to ensure safety and security.
