Sabarimala Opens for Mandala Season With Tight Curbs and Extra Spot Quota

Overview

• The hill shrine opened Sunday at 5 p.m. ahead of the 41-day Mandala period starting November 17, with Mandala puja on December 27 and Makaravilakku on January 14.
• More than 22 lakh darshan slots were booked online by December 1, and an additional 20,000 daily spot bookings are available at counters in Pampa, Nilakkal, Erumeli, Vandiperiyar, Chathram and Chengannur.
• Security has been tightened with 18,741 police personnel across the pilgrimage route, alongside bans on mobile phones at the Sannidhanam and Pathinettam Padi and a prohibition on photography inside the premises.
• Pilgrim services include drinking-water kiosks, resting benches, bio-toilets, multilingual information boards and emergency medical centres, and the temple will operate from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the season.
• Transport support features special Tamil Nadu bus services through January 16 and additional Southern Railway trains, while newly installed melshanthis took charge and the new TDB president pledged clean conduct; a delay in dolly services was reported.