Sabarimala Pilgrimage Faces Overcrowding; Fresh Restrictions and Virtual Queue Enforced

Sabarimala Temple in Kerala continues to see an overwhelming influx of pilgrims amid the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, prompting authorities to enforce stricter restrictions to curb overcrowding. On Wednesday alone, over 80,600 devotees had darshan, including nearly 20,000 who entered via spot bookings — four times the permitted quota. This surge led to massive congestion, with devotees enduring wait times up to 12 hours despite efforts at crowd management.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), acting under recent Kerala High Court directions, capped daily darshan at 75,000 pilgrims and slashed spot booking allowances to 5,000 through Monday. Pilgrims must now strictly adhere to virtual queue booking, which allows entry only within a window from six hours before to 18 hours after their allotted darshan time. The Court reprimanded officials for insufficient preparation and emphasized the need for tight compliance with booking rules to avoid chaos.

Last week’s initial rush exposed significant shortcomings in infrastructure and coordination, as queues stretched for kilometers amid complaints about drinking water, sanitation, and medical services. Despite previous crowd-control measures, the volume of pilgrims exceeded expectations multiple times, highlighting challenges in managing such a massive spiritual event that attracts hundreds of thousands yearly.

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A state minister, speaking anonymously, suggested that some of the disruption was orchestrated by vested interests exploiting multiple, less monitored entry points to create confusion during a politically sensitive period ahead of local body elections. Authorities have vowed immediate corrective action to strengthen ground coordination, digital booking enforcement, and facilities to ensure a safer, orderly pilgrimage.

As the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival gains momentum, the temple and state government face mounting pressure to harmonize tradition with effective modern crowd management tools. The implementation of the virtual queue system represents a critical step toward safeguarding devotees’ welfare and preserving the sanctity of this revered pilgrimage.

Also Read: Sabarimala Pilgrims in Limbo as Virtual Queue Remains Closed Ahead of Mandala Season