5 months ago
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Riding connected the backmost of a crisp emergence successful pilgrim inflow, income astatine the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple has reached ₹210 crore. Of this, ₹106 crore was earned from the merchantability of ‘aravana’. Compared to erstwhile years, determination has been a important summation successful revenue, said K. Jayakumar, president, Travancore Devaswom Board.
As the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, which began connected November 16, completed 1 month, the full fig of devotees who person had darshan of Lord Ayyappa reached 28 lakh. The fig of pilgrims arriving done wood trekking routes has besides accrued this season, with a full of 46,690 devotees reaching Sannidhanam via the Azhuthakkadavu-Pampa route, portion 74,473 pilgrims arriving done the Sathram route. Discussions are ongoing with the constabulary and the Forest section to modulate this flow, including the instauration of peculiar passes for those arriving via the Erumely-Azhutha wood path. Overall, 25,60,297 devotees reached Sabarimala from Pampa.
Elephant attack
Meanwhile, a associated inspection by the constabulary and the Forest section was carried retired on the Pullumedu wood way connected Thursday to guarantee the information of Ayyappa pilgrims. The inspection followed an incidental connected the nighttime of December 17, erstwhile elephants damaged the extortion and fencing of the Forest department’s check-post astatine Pandithavalam
Following this, officials thoroughly examined the wood way successful the morning, confirming that it was escaped from immoderate wildlife hazards. Once information was ensured, devotees were allowed to proceed on the route.
Meanwhile, the regularisation of 20 tins of aravana per idiosyncratic volition continue. Following the mandala puja, the temple volition adjacent connected December 27, and reopen aft 3 days. Additional aravana volition beryllium produced to physique buffer stock, said K. Jayakumar, president, TDB.
The pilgrimage play began this twelvemonth with a banal of 45 lakh aravana tins. While regular income were initially expected to beryllium astir 3.5 lakh tins, existent income averaged 4.5 lakh tins a day, rapidly depleting stocks. Currently, much than 10 lakh tins are disposable arsenic reserve. At present, astir 3 lakh tins are produced daily, with an further 1 lakh drawn from reserve stock.
Efforts are besides nether mode to resoluteness logistical issues related to serving Kerala-style meals arsenic portion of ‘annadanam.’ Adequate stocks of provisions person already been procured.
Tech maestro plan
Meanwhile, Mr. Jayakumar said determination was nary rigidity regarding spot booking. The tribunal has allowed flexibility based connected circumstances, and decisions volition beryllium taken depending connected pilgrim inflow. For now, the regular bounds of 5,000 spot bookings volition continue.
The TDB besides aims to follow greater usage of exertion successful managing the pilgrimage. A exertion maestro program is being prepared, successful enactment with the tribunal directives. AI and GPS-based systems could beryllium utilized to estimation question clip from Nilackal to Pampa and waiting clip connected queues, enabling smoother assemblage management, the TDB president added.
