Spot Booking Capped at 5,000 Every Day
Pathanamthitta (Kerala): The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Thursday restricted spot booking for Sabarimala darshan to 5,000 people per day, officials said on Thursday.
Spot booking has been restricted as per the direction of the Kerala High Court, a press release said. Spot bookings can be made only at Nilakkal and Vandiperiyar centres. The facility has been temporarily suspended in Pampa, Erumeli and Chengannur, and restrictions will continue until November 24, officials said.
TDB has appealed to devotees coming for Sabarimala darshan to secure their slots through the Virtual Queue system as much as possible. Criticizing the TDB, a division bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar said the situation at the temple had gone out of control recently as nearly two lakh pilgrims arrived within 48 hours of the temple’s inauguration on November 17.
Considering that around one lakh pilgrims are allowed darshan every day during the Mandalam Makaravilakku season and more than 50 lakh visits are made annually, the judges said the existing arrangements were far from adequate.
