6 months ago
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As lakhs of devotees queued up for darshan astatine the Ayyappa temple astatine Sabarimala successful Pathanamthitta, Kerala, connected the 2nd time of the yearly Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, determination were reported complaints of deficiency of h2o for pilgrims lasting successful the enactment for respective hours connected Tuesday (November 18, 2025).
Following the complaints and the ample assemblage of devotees, galore of whom had chopped the line, connected the temple grounds, recently appointed Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K. Jayakumar said 200 further unit person been assigned to scope retired to the radical successful the queues and supply them with water.
He besides said that instructions person been issued to guarantee devotees are capable to steadily ascent the 18 steps for the darshan and that nary 1 cuts the lines to determination successful front.
"I person ne'er seen specified a monolithic and unsafe assemblage connected the temple grounds till now. It appears immoderate radical chopped the lines to leap successful front. Even I americium frightened seeing the ample assemblage here,” helium said.
"I person issued directions to guarantee dependable question of the pilgrims and guarantee nary 1 cuts the enactment oregon queue. Such a ample assemblage should not person collected here," helium said.
Mr. Jayakumar besides said that helium has issued directions to restrict the travel of devotees astatine Nilackal to trim the assemblage of pilgrims astatine Pamba and guarantee they tin implicit their pilgrimage rapidly without having to hold three-five hours successful queues.
"People tin hold astatine Nilackal. There are facilities determination for that. Also, volition acceptable up 7 further spot booking counters determination truthful that devotees bash not person to travel to Pamba for that. We volition besides research the anticipation of capping the fig of spot bookings successful a day," helium said.
The TDB president besides said that the devotees were not entering the queue complexes acceptable up astatine Sabarimala, acrophobic that they mightiness suffer their precedence successful the line.
"But, if they participate the queue complexes, it would beryllium easier for america to supply them h2o and biscuits," helium said.
He said that, nevertheless, 200 further unit person been assigned to scope retired to the radical successful the queues and supply them with h2o arsenic devotees are lasting successful the enactment for respective hours.
He besides said that astir 200 cleaning unit were being brought from Tamil Nadu to cleanable the toilets astatine Sabarimala.
Nearly 2 lakh devotees person arrived astatine the shrine till Tuesday noon aft the temple opened connected November 16 evening for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Till Tuesday 12 noon, 1,96,594 devotees person arrived astatine the shrine, including done spot booking, the Board said successful a statement.
