Sabarimala Fully Prepared for Mandala–Makaravilakku Festival

Pathanamthitta: With just five days remaining for the Mandala–Makaravilakku festival, Sabarimala is fully geared up to welcome devotees. Preparations have been completed under the supervision of the Devaswom Department and the Travancore Devaswom Board at Nilakkal, Pampa, Sannidhanam, and nearby areas including Pandalam, Erumeli, and Chengannur.

As part of crowd management, the temple authorities have fixed the daily entry limit at 90,000 devotees — 70,000 through online booking and 20,000 through spot registration. At Pampa, 10 new queue shelters have been constructed to ease congestion, while at Manappuram, a German style tent has been set up to accommodate up to 4,000 devotees at a time.

To maintain cleanliness and hygiene, fragrance dispensers will be installed in and around Sannidhanam to eliminate unpleasant odors. From Pampa to Sannidhanam, 56 hot-water distribution centers will operate throughout the season. Unlike previous years when sanitation workers were hired through contractors, the Travancore Devaswom Board has directly appointed 420 temporary workers this season — a step aimed at preventing labor exploitation.

Accommodation facilities for pilgrims have also been upgraded, with 548 rooms ready at Sannidhanam, including 56 fully renovated rooms at the Shabari Guest House.

Ensuring a safe pilgrimage experience remains the top priority. CCTV visuals from Sannidhanam, Pampa, and the Nilakkal base camp will be directly monitored at the Pathanamthitta Collectorate.

The temple will open at 5 p.m. on November 16. After the Mandala Pooja, the temple will close on December 27 and reopen on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival. The pilgrimage season will conclude with the closing of the temple on January 20, 2026, following the Makaravilakku, which falls on January 14.