After a two-year hiatus, the divine doors of Sabarimala opened to pilgrims, who thronged the holy place in lakhs. For a long, COVID played a spoilsport restricting the pilgrims' access to the holy shrine. A busy season culminates this Friday after which the temple closes for one month time. The Devasom board of Kerala has pretty good reasons to rejoice. This season at Sabarimala was unprecedented in many ways. Never have the holy shrine witnessed such a rush with thousands returning without seeking lord Ayyapa's blessings, only for the fear of a stampede. But for Devasom, the season was a reap. A gargantuan sum of Rs350 crores has landed in the coffers of the board. This sum is sufficient enough to ensure one year of proper pay to all staff and members associated with temples under the wings of the Devasom board in Kerala.

Albeit the coffers getting filled, the Devasom board still struggles to dodge away the high criticism coming their way. Sabarimala towers among one of the country’s biggest divine shrines. Tourists and pilgrims flood into the spot seeking blessings of lord Ayyapa. But, it was grueling for the devotes to fight an unprecedented rush to hassle their way to the temple. No such effective measures were put in place by the Devasom. Almost one lakh pilgrims circled the nearby premises of Sannidhanam to witness the divine light shine. Thankfully, no accidents due to stampedes were reported since the facilities showed serious dearth. Adding to the worries, one Devasom staff was seen pushing the devotees forcefully in front of the shrine which caught the media's eyes. Even the high court lashed out at the board for such a treatment of devotees.

Accidents are no strangers to Sabarimala roads. This time also, few pilgrims lost their lives. Every season brings such ill-fated news even though Sabarimala road ranks as one of the best in the state. Mostly the pilgrims from other states who are naïve to these curvy roads end up crashing the vehicles. The police and the forces involved, need to find ways to end the ever-happening accidents on these routes.

Whatever the case, this season was monumental for the recuperated fortunes gained by the Board. The Devasom board can sit with an air of relief that no women tried entering the shrine emulating the dramatic days of 2018. A season to remember in all aspects.