Thiruvananthapuram: The renowned Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala is prepared to open for the Mandala season on Friday and will stay open till December 26. The Mandala season lasts for over one and a half months during which devotees will be allowed to enter Sannidhanam from Pamba starting at 1 pm on Friday.
A significant influx of devotees is anticipated during the Mandala season, as virtual queue bookings for November are already full. Except for a few afternoon slots on November 30, all booking slots from November 15 to 29 have been taken.
Temple authorities said that individuals who have booked a virtual queue slot should cancel their booking if their trip is postponed or cancelled. If they do not cancel the booking, they will not get another chance, and the cancelled slots will be allocated to spot bookings instead.
Devotees interested in spot booking must provide a copy of their Aadhaar card, voter ID, or passport. Seven counters have been established at Pamba for this purpose. Accommodation facilities are available for 8,000 pilgrims at three locations in Nilakkal and for 7,000 people at Pamba.
The Travancore Devaswom Board is also considering extending the darshan timings by 30 minutes to one hour during the Mandala Makaravilakku season if there is an increase in the number of devotees. The current darshan timings during the Mandala season are from 3 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 11 pm.
Health minister Veena George announced that the health department is preparing comprehensive arrangements for the Mandala season. In addition to health department and medical college doctors, the assistance of trained volunteers is also secured.
Health department services will be accessible along all principal Sabarimala pathways and it is imperative that everyone adheres strictly to the guidelines. The command center at Pamba will operate around the clock.
The minister said, “Should any devotee encounter any difficulty while ascending the hill, they should approach the closest health center for assistance. We have heightened awareness efforts in several languages such as Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada for the benefit of pilgrims”.
Meanwhile, drinking water supply, approximately 68 lakh litres will be stored across eight reservoirs stretching from Pamba to Sannidhanam. Additionally, temporary taps have been set up, according to the water authority. The water authority also declared that 35,000 litres of fresh water will be distributed hourly via reverse osmosis (RO) plants in Sabarimala. Drinking water will reach the pilgrims through 270 taps located in 103 kiosks, with pipes connected from the RO plants. Furthermore, the authority plans to establish additional kiosks based.
Advisory for pilgrims:
· Devotees undergoing treatment for any ailments should bring their medical records and medications for darshan.
· Continue taking prescribed medications during fasting periods.
· Light exercises, such as walking, several days prior to the visit must be followed.
· Ascend the mountain gradually, taking breaks to rest.
· Should you feel extreme fatigue, chest pain, or shortness of breath during the climb, pause and seek medical help immediately.
· Consume only boiled water.
· Always wash your hands with soap before eating.
· Eat fruits only after thoroughly washing them.
· Avoid consuming stale or exposed food.
· Use toilets instead of defecating in the open, and wash your hands with soap afterwards.
· Dispose of waste properly in bins provided.
· In the event of a snake bite, seek immediate medical help. Anti-venom medication is available.
