As the Mandala Pooja approaches on Wednesday at Sabarimala, the pilgrimage site has been experiencing a significant influx of devotees. The current Mandalam-Makaravilakku season has seen a remarkable turnout, with a total of 25,69,671 pilgrims having visited the temple until Saturday. On Saturday alone, the hill shrine witnessed a surge, with over 97,000 pilgrims making their way to Sabarimala. In response to the growing crowds, traffic regulations have been implemented at halting places like Erumeli and other locations in Pathanamthitta to manage the flow of pilgrims at Nilakkal, Pampa, and Sannidhanam. The heightened rush on Sunday resulted in pilgrims taking more than 12 hours to reach Sannidhanam from Pampa.
To ensure smooth crowd management, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, P S Prasanth, stated that currently, the daily spot bookings permitted are 10,000. The TDB has the option to increase spot bookings to 15,000, as suggested by the Kerala High Court. In anticipation of increased demand, the TDB plans to procure 5 lakh kilograms of jaggery from local suppliers. Tenders for the procurement process will be opened on December 25, aiming to meet the demand for offerings throughout the season. Additionally, in connection with the Mandala Pooja, there will be a modification in the temple’s reopening schedule, with doors reopening at 5 pm on Tuesday instead of the usual 3 pm. The Mandala Pooja is scheduled for Wednesday between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, altering the Neyyabhishekam timing to conclude at 9.45 am instead of the usual 11.30 am.
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