Heavy rush at Sabarimala ahead of Makaravilakku

With just about a week left for the annual Makaravilakku festival, the Sabarimala hill temple is witnessing a heavy influx of devotees.

On Thursday, the queue of pilgrims waiting to climb the ‘18 holy steps’ stretched up to Sabaripeedam, prompting the police to temporarily halt the movement of pilgrims at Pampa. With only days remaining for the festival, authorities have decided to tighten restrictions further. The police are now allowing only pilgrims with online bookings to proceed to Pampa from Erumely and Nilackal.

Meanwhile, authorities have begun inspections of the Makaravilakku viewing points in and around the Sabarimala hills. District Collector S. Prem Krishnan visited the stopover point of the Tiruvabharanam procession at the Laha Forest Office and also reviewed security arrangements at key viewing points, including Panjippara, Ilavunkal, Nellimala and Attathodu West.

At Panjippara, construction works, including the installation of safety fencing, is progressing. Ambulance services under the Health department will be ensured at all viewing points. Instructions have also been issued to install safety fencing at the Ilavunkal, Attathodu and Nellimala viewpoints.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), meanwhile, is stepping up lighting arrangements at locations where large number of devotees gather to witness the Makarajyothi celestial event. Around 3,000 lights have already been installed at the Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilackal.

To prevent power disruptions, all 11 kV and LT lines have been converted to ABC cables and monkey guards have been installed to prevent electrocution of wildlife. Electricity is supplied to the Triveni substation through four feederlines laid through forest areas from Kochu Pampa. Maintenance work has also been completed on the ABC cable supplying power from Pampa to the Sannidhanam.

LED lights have been installed at locations where pilgrims rest or wait to climb the 18 steps, including at Pandithavalam, Malikappuram, Marakkoottam, Sharankuthi, Neelimala and Appachi Medu. Maintenance work has been completed on 38 transformers. At Nilackal, which has parking facilities for around 10,000 vehicles, 1,500 LED lights have been installed.