Pathanamthitta: The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will open its doors to devotees on Friday for the annual Madalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The public will be allowed to ascend to Sannidhanam from Pampa at 1 p.m.

The Sanctum Sanctorum at Sabarimala will open at 4 p.m. on Friday, an hour earlier than the usual opening time of 5 p.m., to accommodate large crowds. Today’s number of virtual reservations stands at 30,000.

Ahead of the opening of the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, Devaswom board chairman PS Prashanth said the board would address ongoing issues to ensure a smoother pilgrimage experience.

This season, the duration of darshan has been extended to 18 hours. “I thank the tantri and the head priest (melsanthi) for cooperating to extend the darshan timings. However, we have no plans to extend the timings further,” Prashanth told Manorama News.

After the opening of the sanctum sanctorum, Tantri Kantaru Rajeevaru will carry out the consecration of the newly appointed head priests of Sabarimala and Malikappuram after a specialized training program at the Thazhamon Madom.

Pilgrims can travel from Pampa to Sannidhanam from 1 p.m. Newly appointed head priest Arun Kumar Namboothiri will open the sanctum sanctorum at 3 am on Saturday, marking the start of the Malayalam calendar month Vrischikam.

Arrangements in place
State police chief Sheikh Darvesh Sahib said all measures were in place to enable devotees to carry out their pilgrimage.

Sahib held discussions with officers from Pampa, Sannidhanam and Nilakkal and said the main responsibility of the police is to help devotees have a smooth and safe darshan experience in Sannidhanam. ADGP Chief Police Coordinator, S Sreejith accompanied the police chief during his inspection.

The role of police during the Sabarimala pilgrimage is not just a duty but a service to humanity, he added. Furthermore, Sahib stressed the need to address crucial issues such as searching for missing persons, preventing pick-pocketing, theft of mobile phones and the sale of psychotropic substances.

Authorities have been tasked with preventing unauthorized parking on major roads and ensuring smooth traffic management. Meal and accommodation facilities have been arranged for the police personnel on duty.

In a statement, police urged worshipers to follow “all instructions from the authorities to ensure the smooth and safe running of the festival.”