No direct booking for devotees at Sabarimala; focus to be on Akshaya Vishram Sthals: Minister

Kottayam: Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan clarified that there will be online booking at Sabarimala and there will be no direct spot booking for the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival. He said the numbers have been reduced for smooth darshan and full darshan will be ensured for devotees visiting the temple.

Akshaya centres will be set up at various resting places. Information of devotees will be collected. No person coming wearing Ayyappa garlands will be sent back. Interests of devotees will be protected. Devotees are being misguided by some political parties. People will recognise this. If they take political advantage, they will be confronted. There is no possibility of riots, the minister said.

At a review meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board convened the other day, it was decided to inform the government that spot booking for Sabarimala darshan should not be completely avoided. There are indications that a decision to allow spot booking will be taken at the next review meeting to be held in the presence of the Chief Minister. This situation has come at a time when there were massive protests after the decision to consider online booking as sufficient. It was directed in the meeting that spot booking should be done at Pampa by taking identity documents like Aadhaar and photo. CPM state secretary MV Govindan said in a press conference that the government is not adamant on considering only online booking as sufficient. If the complaint about the ban is factual, necessary changes will be made. There are many people who are not aware of the online system, including those from other states. He also said that the government will take appropriate decision. Board Chairman PS Prashant had said that there will be no such situation where any devotee returns without darshan. Since it is necessary to collect accurate information about the devotees, it was decided in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister last Saturday that allowing 80,000 pilgrims per day through online booking is sufficient.