WATCH: Devotees Offer Prayer At Sabarimala Temple As Annual Pilgrimage Season Begins

In the next 10 days, around 7 lakh devotees are expected to come. Last year, during the entire season, around 27 lakh pilgrims had come for darshan, Travancore Devaswom Board prez Ananthagopan said.

Sabarimala temple (File Photo)

Chennai: The annual 41-day-long Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season started at Sabarimala Temple on Thursday. Over 7 lakh devotees are likely to visit the temple as per the virtual queue alone. However, more pilgrims are expected to come via spot booking. 

In a tweet, ANI said, “Devotees throng Sabarimala Temple in Kerala to offer prayers as the temple opened for them today. “

#WATCH | Devotees throng Sabarimala Temple in Kerala to offer prayers as the temple opened for them today.

(Source: Sabarimala Temple Authority) pic.twitter.com/t6v6634Agc

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2022

According to PTI, the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala opened on Wednesday evening on the eve of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The authorities expect that this year the footfall of the season will increase by 40 to 50 per cent since the season begins for the first time in the absence of COVID restrictions. 

Addressing the press, Kerala Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan said that in the past two years the pilgrimage was conducted with strict COVID-19 guidelines and only 30,000 pilgrims were allowed each day. However, unlike the last two years, there are no limits on the number of pilgrims. 

"We expect a huge turnout this year. There is no limit on the number of devotees who can come per day. We expect a 40 to 50 per cent increase in pilgrims compared to the previous two years," the Minister told PTI.

Travancore Devaswom Board president K Ananthagopan said, more than 40,000 bookings have been made per day via virtual queue alone for the coming days.

In the next 10 days around 7 lakh devotees are expected to come. Last year, during the entire season, around 27 lakh pilgrims had come for darshan, Ananthagopan said.

In order to handle the pilgrims and ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage, Radhakrishnan said that he has made extensive arrangements and worked in tandem with all concerned departments.