PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board has reduced the number of online bookings from 80,000 to 70,000 minding the reinstated spot booking for Sabarimala darshan. The online booking for Mandala-Makaravilakku season which will be held from November 15 to January 19 started at 5 pm on Wednesday.

At half past six, Board President P.S. Prashanth and members Adv. A. Ajikumar and G. Sundareshan disclosed the news in a press conference held at Sannidhanam. In the review meeting held on October 5 under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, it was decided to allow 80,000 people to visit the temple through online booking. The decision has been now reversed.

Last season, about twenty thousand people visited the temple daily through spot booking. Back then, 80,000 devotees were allowed to visit the temple through online booking but was later restricted to 70,000 considering the swelling in numbers which went beyond control.

In effect, the board has cut down the number so that the total number of pilgrims on each day does not cross the prescribed limit. Kerala Kaumudi had earlier in a report pointed out the future consequences of avoiding spot booking which later turned into an eye-opener for the government to rescind their decision.

Meanwhile, the High Court sought an explanation from the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board on the plea that spot booking should not be stopped. Shiv Sena State President Peroorkada Harikumar filed the petition through Adv. T.K Ananthakrishnan. The petition was adjourned to the 24th of this month. In connection with this, the news published by 'Kerala Kaumudi' on October 6 was produced in the court.