Kerala government to allow online booking for Sabarimala pilgrims at Akshaya centres as opposition mounts

Kerala government faces opposition over Sabarimala pilgrimage booking restrictions, aims to find compromise with stakeholders.

The Kerala government appeared to choose a midway path on Sunday (October 13, 2024) following increasingly strident and politically bipartisan opposition to the administration’s controversial decision to disallow spot booking for pilgrims aspiring to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple during the impending mandala season and limit their daily numbers to 80,000.  

Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan told reporters that the government would open Akshaya Centres at Erumeli, Kadapattoor, Ettumanoor and Chenganoor so pilgrims could make last-minute online bookings.

He pointed out that an overwhelming number of pilgrims camp in the localities before making the final leg of their journey to Sabarimala.

However, Mr Vasavan said that given security and crowd management concerns, the government was unlikely to reverse its decision to disallow spot bookings.

He said the government’s decision to limit the number of devotees trekking uphill to Sannidhanam to 80,000 daily would stay to facilitate a hassle-free darshan.

Mr Vasavan said allowing online booking at the Nilackal base camp appeared impractical. The government would take a final call in consultation with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

A senior official said an accurate daily forecast of the anticipated footfall of pilgrims would help law enforcement calibrate police deployment. He said the number of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala peaked during weekends and holidays and dwindled during working days.