THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting presided over by the Chief Minister decided to limit daily darshan to 90,000 to ensure satisfactory darshan for Sabarimala pilgrims. Darshan time extended by one hour. More facilities will be provided for parking at Nilakkal. A high-level meeting will be held every week with the participation of the Devaswom Minister. Darshan will be from 3 am to 1.30 pm and from 3 pm to 11.30 pm on busy days. This Sayamkrama is being implemented for the last few days.
Devaswom Board President K. Anantha Gopan said that with the implementation of the new reform, 19 hours of darshan will be available. The number of Ashtabhishekam and Pushpabhishekam will be regulated. Those booked for these Pujas will be given the opportunity to stand in Sannidhanam. More volunteers will be deputed at Saramkuthi to provide water and biscuits to the devotees. The parking facility at Nilakal will be improved. 12000 vehicles can be parked now. 120000 people book in virtual queue every day. But not everyone who makes a reservation comes. Policemen with wealth of experience will be appointed in the 18th step. Anantha Gopan said that he will not deny darshan to anyone.
Meanwhile, Sannidhanam SP Harichandra Naik was transferred to Pampa for failing to manage the crowd. Sudarshan Sannidhanam, who was in charge of Pampa, will become SP. The arrangement is part of the deployment of people experienced in crowd control.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed that maximum facilities should be provided to the pilgrims who visit Sabarimala. The chief minister said this in a high-level meeting held to discuss matters related to the pilgrimage. It is important to prepare a satisfying darshan for the devotees to climb the eighteenth step without any difficulty and reach the Sannidhanam. The Chief Minister suggested that necessary arrangements should be made for it. Increasing the darshan hours to 19 hours a day has provided an opportunity for more people to visit. The Chief Minister said that the Devaswom Board and Pathanamthitta district administration should take steps to increase the parking facility. Parking facility has been increased. 6,500 vehicles can be parked in 17 grounds.
In the meeting, Devaswam Department Minister K. Radhakrishnan, Devaswom Board President K. Anantha Gopan, State Police Chief Anilkanth, Pathanamthitta District Collector Divya S Iyer and concerned officials were present.
In view of the increase in the number of pilgrims at Sabarimala, the High Court had suggested to consider increasing the darshan hours. The court held a special sitting on Sunday as the number of pilgrims crossed one lakh every day. At present, Nata is open for 18 hours. 80 pilgrims can climb the 18th step in a minute. 86,400 people in 18 hours. Due to the rush, the closing of the temple grounds was extended by half an hour from Friday night. It is open from 3 am to 11.30 pm.
English Summary: Sabarimala daily pilgrims number reduced to control crowd