No spot booking in Sabarimala this time, only virtual queue; no one will return without darshan, says devaswom board

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prashanth said that there will be no spot booking in Sabarimala for this year's mandala and makaravilakku mahotsav and only virtual queue will be there. While addressing a press meet in the capital city, he said the decision to arrange a virtual queue was taken with good intentions and that no devotee who comes for darshan will return without getting darshan this time.

‘'Spot booking is entry pass only. However, virtual booking is an authentic document for devotees. The increase in spot bookings is not a good thing. Will anyone book online if there is spot booking? The safety of the devotees and the temple is equally important to the devaswom board. Income is not the only thing to think about. Ayyappa devotees are now arriving through various routes. Their authentic document is required. If the number of devotees, who do not do book online, increases, then appropriate decision will be taken in consultation with the government. 90% of the works for the pilgrimage period have been completed,’ said the president.

In the Sabarimala review meeting presided over by the chief minister, it was decided that only online booking is enough for darshan during mandala-makaravilakku season this year. There were strong protests against this. Some organizations had decided to approach the court against the action of the government.

Thousands of pilgrims, including those from other states, come directly to Pampa without booking. In previous years there were spot bookings at Pandalam, Chengannur, Nilakkal and Pampa. During the last part of the pilgrimage, spot bookings were made only at Nilakkal and Pampa. More than 5000 devotees reached this way every day last time, during the busy days, according to an unofficial estimate.

The groups that walk through the forest from Erumeli via the traditional route also do not book online because they cannot adhere to the fixed timings. Last time, more than 20,000 people who came like this climbed the hills through spot booking in Pampa.