Vazhipadu rates to be increased in temples; new method of darshan in Sabarimala; Devaswom Board President with announcements

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President PS Prashanth announced at a press conference that the Vazhipadu rates of 1,256 temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board will be increased by 30 percent. This is in temples other than Sabarimala. He also said that the rates are being increased after nine years.

Vazhipadu rates used to be increased every five years as per the order of the High Court. However, the increase was not implemented in 2016 due to the floods and then Covid. The increase will come into effect from Thursday.

New method of darshan in Sabarimala

The Devaswom Board President said that there will be a completely new method of darshan for Sabarimala devotees from Medam month onwards. The trial run of the system for devotees to reach the shrine from both sides of the flagpole and the Balikalpura without climbing the flyover will start from the Meenamasa Puja. Currently, the time allotted for Ayyappa darshan is five seconds, but with the new system, the time allotted for darshan will be 20 to 30 seconds. If successful, this will be the way of darshan in Sabarimala later.