'Devotees hell-bent on immediate darshan, try to understand ground reality,’ says ADGP  

SABARIMALA: ADGP S Sreejith said the situation in Sabarimala is under control and two lakh people have come for darshan in two days. All devotees visiting Sabarimala are hell-bent on immediate darshan. Devotees should understand the ground reality. A huge rush of devotees is witnessed in Sabarimala today, the second day of the Mandala season.

‘More people are coming than spot booking. All are hell-bent on having darshan immediately. We had to give spot booking to 37,000 people instead of the 20,000. We don’t have a system to turn them away. It is not right to do so. The devotees who take the virtual slot, don’t visit the temple on that peculiar day. They come some other day. The devotees should understand these two things. Everyone should get a chance for darshan. There are enough police force. If more are deployed, they will not be able to do their work,' said Sreejith.

Meantime, Travancore Devaswom Board President K Jayakumar said on the second day of the mandala season, a heavy rush of devotees is witnessed in Sabarimala today like he has never seen before in his life. Many people have come through other routes as they could not stand in the queue for long. Directions have been given to take steps to allow them to pass through the holy 18 steps.