Sabarimala revenue expected to cross Rs 300 crore; low pilgrim turnout reported

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board incurred serious losses in revenue in Sabarimala after the women's entry controversy and then the COVID pandemic. It was mostly during the last season that Devaswom saw a recovery in revenue as pilgrims started thronging into the temple like in the olden days. This time the total income is estimated to cross three hundred crores. At the same time, the number of pilgrims has decreased by 16 lakh compared to last year.

Apart from paying the salaries of the entire staff of the Devaswom Board and meeting the day-to-day needs of other temples, this income can also be used to implement development projects. The revenue was 403 crores last year. The record revenue happened after the world came to normalcy after two years of scare induced by the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Albeit easing the restrictions over COVID, there was only a Rs 154 crore jump in revenue during previous years. Till the Mandala season of this year, the revenue was Rs 241 crore, and the additional revenue acquired during the Makaravilakku season will be released on January 20.

Sabarimala revenue

# 241 crores till 2023-24: Mandala season

# 2022-23: 403 crore (including monopoly auction)

# 2021-22: 154.5 crore (Covid)

# 2020-21: 21 crore (Covid)

# 2019-20: 263.46 crores

Another pilgrimage season has thus ended in Sabarimala. Despite great work from the government, several other issues caught headlines, like the uncontrollable rush, several accidents involving Sabarimala devotees, and the beeline traffic congestion in the Nilackal base camp. A solution is imminent for all these concerns.