Sabarimala-: Arrangements

Sabarimala: Arrangements in place for a hassle-free darshan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have been deployed dividing Sabarimala in to three zones, Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nillakkal in order to prevent the sudden rush and security concerns during the Makaravilakku and Makarajyothi darshanam on Monday.

Around 2,250 police officials have already been deployed in Sannidhanam alone. In order to prevent rush at Malaikkppuram barricade were made available.

Sabarimala Devaswom Board president M P Govindan Nair said more drinking water facilities were made available at Pandithavalam, Malikappuram and other places for devotees. Measures have also been taken to meet the rising demand for Appam and Aravana.

Thousands of devotees have already camped at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pulmedu, Parunthumpara, Panchalimedu and other points to catch a glimpse of the celestial star; Makarajyothi that appears on the eastern horizon of Sannidhanam.

The muhurtham (auspicious time) for Makarasankrama puja is at 6.56am as per the astrological calculations. The auspicious Sankramabhishekom will be performed with the ghee brought from the Kowdiar palace in Thiruvananthapuram on the occasion. Thiruvabharanam, the sacred jewellery, which is being brought to the Sannidhanam in a ceremonial procession from Pandalam will reach there by 6.15pm.

"As many as 2,17,000 tins of aravana is prepared everyday and around 7 lakh is already in the reserve. As many as 97,000 packet of appam is in the bank and one lakh packet is produced on daily basis, which will be sufficient to meet the heavy rush on the day," he said.

Sabarimala Devaswom Board has convened a meeting with Malayaraya tribe in connection with the lighting of the lamp at Ponnamabalemedu on Makaravilakku day.

KSRTC will be plying additional services and 350 buses will carry out chain services between Pamba and Nilakkal and 650 buses will ferry devotees in the long route, including to other States.

Meanwhile, laying the foundation stone for the proposed hospital at Pamba, chief minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday said additional amount for Sabarimala development would be earmarked in the coming budget. The Rs 15 crore-hospital project will be completed before the next pilgrim season.

Devaswom minister V S Sivakumar said the parking area at Nilakkal would be expanded so that 7,000 vehicles could be parked at a time. "The nadappanthal at Sannidhanam will be two-storeyed. A waste treatment plant will be set up at Sannidhanam itself and the capacity of the plant at Pamba will be increased. It has already been requested to the government to increase financial aid to implement the Sabarimala master plan at the earliest,