Sabarimala temple is very famous all over the world. Devotees eagerly wait to visit the temple, but now the wait of the devotees is about to end. Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will be opened at 5 pm today. Devotees will be allowed to climb the hill from 1 pm onwards.
Darshan will be allowed from 3 am on Friday and Saturday. With the beginning of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala is set to open its doors to devotees. Outgoing Melasanthi (chief priest) P.N. Mahesh Namboothiri will open the sanctum sanctorum of the temple at 5 pm.
How will the event be organized?
The Updevata temple was inaugurated on Friday and the sacred fire was formally transferred to Aazhi. Newly appointed Melsanthis S. Arun Kumar Namboothiri and Vasudevan Namboothiri will officially play their roles in Ayyappa Temple and Malikappuram Devi Temple.
299 security personnel will be deployed
State police chief Sheikh Darvesh Sahab visited the temple on Thursday to take stock of the security arrangements. The Revenue Department has opened emergency operation centers at Sannidhanam, Nilakkal and Pampa. These centers will collectively deploy 299 personnel, including a duty magistrate and executive magistrate at Sannidhanam, 144 staff at Pampa and 160 staff at Nilakkal.
How are the preparations at the base stations?
With over 50 lakh devotees undertaking the pilgrimage last season, officials are bracing for a busy season ahead. Preparations have also been completed at major base stations including Erumeli, Chengannur, Kumily, Ettumanur and Punalur.
Pampa bus station is fully operational, with plans to increase bus services as the Makaravilakku festival approaches.
Temples will be opened for 18 hours
The virtual line will allow 70,000 pilgrims each day to secure entry slots, while an additional 10,000 spaces will be available through on-the-spot booking at the counters at Pampa, Erumeli and Vadiperiyar. The temple will be kept open 18 hours daily.