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The government had earlier capped the daily limit at 80,000 devotees. While the TDB said a decision on the remaining 10,000 slots will be taken later, sources hinted the slots are being set aside for spot bookings. The decision thus laid to rest the demands and complaints by various community groups and the opposition parties..
Sabarimala temple opens for the ‘Thulam’ month ahead of Mandalam season
Sabarimala: Sharp objections from a section of devotees and Hindu religious groups has led to the Devaswom board change its stance over the spot booking demand raised and hence avoid the technical glitches and challenges faced by devotees while booking online. Thus, the Travancore Devaswom Board started virtual queue bookings for the upcoming pilgrimage season a daily cap of 70,000 pilgrims, 10,000 less from an earlier decided limit which will be allowed for those booking directly.
The Hill shrine was opened on Wednesday evening for the ‘Thulam’ month pooja ahead of the ‘Mandalam’ season with virtual queue being allotted for 70,000 on a daily basis.
The government had earlier capped the daily limit at 80,000 devotees. While the TDB said a decision on the remaining 10,000 slots will be taken later, sources hinted the slots are being set aside for spot bookings. The decision thus laid to rest the demands and complaints by various community groups and the opposition parties..
“The board has finally decided to allot 10,000 as the cap for spot booking as there has been widespread demand from devotees and certain groups who feel that everyone need not get the virtual booking facilities in the last moment and hence could be a challenge for them to reach Sannidhanam. However, we will advise the devotees to use virtual booking system as it allows them for a hassle free darshanam and there wont be any other glitches”, said a senior member of the TDB who spoke to News9.
He added that the TDB is taking all measures in the upcoming Mandalam season to ensure that there will not be any hassles in crowd management as it happened last year where the officials were under huge criticism after devotees complained of poor crowd management and queue system that led to devotees from Tamil Nadu and Andhra returning back home without being able to reach Sannidhanam.
Last year too, 70,000 bookings were allocated for devotees online. Speculations about the government allowing spot bookings emerged after CM Pinarayi Vijayan, while responding to a submission by MLA V Joy, told the assembly on Tuesday that online registration would not be mandatory for darshan at the hill shrine.
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