Overview
- Doors opened at 5 p.m. on Sunday for the 41-day Mandala period beginning November 17, with Mandala puja on December 27 and Makaravilakku on January 14.
- More than 22 lakh online darshan slots were taken by December 1, and the Travancore Devaswom Board added 20,000 daily spot bookings at counters in Pampa, Nilakkal, Erumeli, Vandiperiyar, Chathram and Chengannur.
- Conduct rules include a strict mobile-phone ban at Sannidhanam, especially on the Pathinettam Padi, along with a prohibition on photography and videography inside the premises.
- Security has been scaled up with 18,741 police personnel deployed, and traffic controls include closing the Pampa road on December 27 with reopening planned for December 30 ahead of Makaravilakku.
- Pilgrim support includes special Tamil Nadu bus services through January 16, additional Southern Railway trains, expanded parking at Nilakkal and Erumeli, and upgraded water, sanitation and medical facilities.