Sabarimala Temple to Reopen Tomorrow for Mandala–Makaravilakku Season

Pathanamthitta: The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple will reopen at 5 pm on Sunday for the Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. From Vrischikam 1 (November 17), darshan will be permitted from 3 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 11 pm. Online booking has been arranged for 70,000 pilgrims, with an additional 20,000 allowed through real-time booking. Any cancelled online slots will be reallocated for real-time booking.

Preparations across multiple departments have been completed ahead of the pilgrimage. A dedicated queue system has been established for women and children, and senior officials with extensive experience have been entrusted with coordinating all departmental operations. Benches have been installed along Chandranandan Road from Marakkoottam to Sannidhanam to provide rest for pilgrims. A 400-metre low boundary wall has been constructed on both sides of the queue complex from Valiya Nadappanthal to Saramkuthi, offering additional seating. Hot drinking water will be supplied through kiosks, while 56 ginger-water distribution centres, alongside drinking water kiosks installed by the Water Authority, will operate from Pamba to Sannidhanam.

A 1,200-member sanitation team from the Vishudhi Sena will be on duty round the clock, supported by Devaswom Board cleaning staff. In addition, 420 temporary workers have been deployed for toilet cleaning and maintenance. A total of 1,005 toilets have been arranged at Sannidhanam — 885 free and 120 paid. Along the Saramkuthi queue complexes, 164 toilets have been set up. At Pamba, 300 toilets are ready, including 70 exclusively for women. Fifty-eight bio-toilet units have been installed along both the traditional forest route and the Swami Ayyappan Road from Pamba to Sannidhanam. Utility boards with multilingual directional signs and emergency contact numbers have also been erected. Fifteen emergency medical centres have been opened under the supervision of the Health Department.

Aravana production at the Sannidhanam temple kitchen has been increased, with the capacity to produce up to 3.5 lakh tins per day. Annadanam and light refreshments will be available in ample quantities. At the annadanam hall near Malikappuram, upma, curry, and ginger coffee will be served from 6 am, pulao in the afternoon, and kanji at night. Under the supervision of Tamil Nadu Devaswom Minister Shekhar Babu, 50 lakh packets of biscuits will be distributed to pilgrims. Accommodation has been arranged across various buildings at Sannidhanam, with 546 rooms ready for use. Fifty-six rooms in the Sabari Guest House have been fully renovated.

Following the Mandalapooja, the temple will close at 10 pm on December 27. For the Makaravilakku festival, the temple will reopen at 5 pm on December 30 and remain open until January 20. Makarajyothi darshan will be held on January 14. On the morning of January 20, darshan will be allowed only for the representative of the Pandalam Palace, after which the temple will close. Online booking for offerings has commenced, and devotees may also purchase tickets directly.

Accident Insurance Coverage Expanded Across Kerala

Accident insurance coverage, previously limited to four districts, has now been extended statewide. In the event of a pilgrim’s death, the family will receive an insurance compensation of five lakh. Ambulance support of up to one lakh will be provided for incidents outside Kerala and up to 30,000 within the state. The Devaswom Board will bear the full insurance premium. Additionally, a relief fund has been established for pilgrims who die due to illnesses such as heart attacks, with three lakh to be provided to the family of the deceased.