Arrangements for Makaravilakku begin at Sabarimala

Arrangements at Sabarimala will be put in place at least two days in advance as the procession of the sacred jewels is scheduled to begin on January 12

Amid an uninterrupted flow of pilgrims, the hill shrine of Sabarimala is abuzz with activity as authorities have commenced preparations for the Makaravilakku festival on January 15.

As part of it, Arun S. Nair, Additional District Magistrate, Sabarimala, has convened meetings of various government departments and issued directions to implement the decisions taken as part of the meetings convened by the Devaswom Minister, Pathanamthitta District Collector and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president. With the procession of the sacred jewels scheduled to commence from Pandalam on January 12, the arrangements at Sabarimala will be put in place at least two days in advance, the official said.

The temple, reopened for the Makaravilakku season, has seen a daily influx of over 90,000 devotees. As of the first 41 days, 32.49 lakh pilgrims visited Sabarimala, marking a significant increase from last year’s 28.42 lakh during the same period. Revenue too soared to ₹297 crore from ₹214 crore last season.

To ensure safety during the festival, joint inspections by police, forest, and health departments will be conducted at key vantage points. Special emphasis is being placed on managing crowds at Valiyanavattom, ensuring they do not disrupt the procession of jewels on its arrival at Pampa.

Forests Minister A.K. Saseendran also held a meeting at Pampa to review the festival arrangements. According to estimates, approximately 1.40 lakh devotees used the forest route via Mukkuzhy to reach Sabarimala till January 1, while 86,980 took the Sathram-Pullumedu route.

A total of 109 wild boars have been translocated from Sannidhanam and Pampa to ensure the safety of pilgrims. A real-time monitoring system has been installed on the Sathram-Uppupara road, enhancing surveillance and safety. Elephant squads have been deployed at Pampa, Sannidhanam, and Pullumedu, complemented by temporary solar fences at all key locations to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. The police have been granted permission to set up a temporary wireless repeater station at Pullumedu to bolster communication during the festival.

Eco-Development Committees are operational at eight base points along traditional forest routes, and eco-guards have been deployed. Works on the temporary footbridges over the Pampa and Njunangar rivers are slated for completion by January 12.

Special arrangements are also being made at Pullumedu for the Makaravilakku day. Temporary barricades will be constructed around the Makarajyothi viewing point and joint teams of police and forest officers will be patrolling the Nalam Mile-Pullumedu route. KSRTC will operate special services from Nalam Mile to transport the devotees returning from Pullumedu.

Meanwhile, Sabarimala has become the first 4G-enabled site in Pathanamthitta district, with broadband speeds ranging from 30 Mbps to 1 Gbps. BSNL has reported daily internet usage of 300 TB at Sabarimala, with the TDB covering the internet service expenses.

Published - January 04, 2025 07:04 pm IST