The renowned Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, has recently opened its doors for the Mandal Makaravilakku season, which attracts lakhs of devotees every year. This period, primarily taking place in the months of December and January, sees a significant surge in the number of pilgrims visiting the temple, especially during the Sankranti and Makaravilakku pujas. To help ease the transportation challenges for the growing number of devotees, the government and various airlines have stepped in with additional flight services.

Additional Flights for Devotees’ Convenience

The annual rush of devotees during this season has posed challenges for local transport, with overcrowding and delays becoming significant concerns. To mitigate this, airlines have taken proactive steps to run additional flights, ensuring faster and more efficient travel for the pilgrims. As part of these efforts, eight daily flights will now operate between Chennai and Kochi, one of the nearest airports to Sabarimala. Additionally, three more flights from Bengaluru to Kochi via Chennai have been extended, making it easier for devotees to reach their destination without delays. These additional services will remain in operation until January 25, 2025.

Several airlines, including Air India Express, Indigo, and SpiceJet, are providing these special services, all aimed at streamlining the travel experience for the devotees. With these extra flights, many devotees believe they can avoid the long travel times typically associated with road transport, allowing them to reach Sabarimala in a more convenient and timely manner.

Special Security and Other Arrangements for Devotees

In addition to the enhanced flight services, the temple authorities have made special security arrangements to ensure the safety of all visitors. With the high volume of pilgrims expected, especially during the Makaravilakku season starting on December 30, these measures are crucial to maintaining order and preventing any disruptions. The authorities have also taken steps to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience, with efforts focused on crowd management and ensuring that devotees can perform their rituals without difficulty.

The temple’s Mandal season will run until December 26, and the Makaravilakku season will continue until January 20, 2025, bringing a steady flow of devotees to the shrine. The coordinated efforts by the government and airlines aim to ensure that the pilgrimage remains a sacred and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

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Early Opening and Extended Darshan Hours

To manage the initial rush of devotees, the temple was opened an hour earlier than scheduled. Pilgrims began their sacred journey with a padayatra from the banks of the Pampa River to the Ayyappa Swami Sannidhanam, offering prayers to Lord Ayyappa.

This season, darshan hours have been extended significantly, with devotees now able to visit from 3 AM to 1 PM and again from 3 PM to 11 PM. The Mandala season will continue until December 26, followed by the Makaravilakku season, which begins on December 30 and ends on January 20, 2025.

Special Arrangements for Devotees

Given the past experiences and the heavy rush expected, TDB has made robust arrangements:

1. Virtual Queue System:
   • Devotees can book slots for darshan online through the virtual queue system.
   • Up to 70,000 slots are available daily, ensuring smooth crowd management.
2. Spot Booking Facility:
   • An additional 10,000 devotees per day can secure their darshan through on-spot bookings, accommodating those unable to reserve online.
3. Assurance to Pilgrims:
   • The board has assured that no devotee with the traditional Irumudikettu will return without a darshan, even in case of heavy traffic.
4. Enhanced Security Measures:
   • Special security arrangements have been implemented to manage the increased footfall and ensure a safe pilgrimage experience.

Change of Temple Priests

As per tradition, the annual change of temple priests will occur when the temple doors reopen at 5 PM on Friday. This sacred ceremony will mark the transition and continuation of spiritual service at the temple.

Devotees’ Response

The opening of the Sabarimala Temple has evoked immense joy among the devotees, many of whom undertake the pilgrimage after observing the 41-day Mandala Diksha. The opportunity for extended darshan hours has been widely welcomed, allowing more devotees to seek blessings during this auspicious season.

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