The pilgrimage to Sabarimala, a revered hill shrine, has been marred by tumultuous crowd mismanagement, leaving numerous devotees unable to complete their sacred journey. Disheartened pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and various parts of Kerala have turned away, their aspirations to visit the hill shrine thwarted due to uncontrollable crowds. Reports highlight that many pilgrims opted to visit the Valiya Koyikkal Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Pandalam instead, finding the situation at Sabarimala untenable.
The conflict between the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the Kerala Police has intensified as they grapple over statistics and crowd control measures. The police accuse the Devaswom Board of exponentially increasing on-spot admissions—alleging a shift from allowing 5,000-6,000 pilgrims outside virtual queues to admitting five times that number. This surge, when combined with the already substantial virtual queue of 80,000, leads to chaotic situations, according to police reports. However, the Board refutes these claims.
Figures indicate a stark rise in visitor counts compared to the previous year, exacerbating the strain on crowd management. Challenges have arisen in coordinating police duties, leading to lapses in controlling the influx of devotees at crucial points like Pampa and the holy 18 steps. The decrease in the pace of ascension, from 75 pilgrims per minute to 60-65, is attributed to the increasing number of women and child devotees.
The domino effect of these issues results in long waiting periods and stagnant queues, forcing pilgrims to endure hours of immobility, especially at Pampa. Law enforcement authorities demand the construction of temporary queue complexes to accommodate 5,000 individuals at Pampa to mitigate the crowd.
The Inspector General advocates for reducing the virtual queue booking limit to 75,000 to facilitate a smoother darshan, emphasizing the strain caused when 90,000 pilgrims seek entry. He notes that nearly 40% of pilgrims remain in queues without obtaining darshan, exacerbating the uncontrollable rush.
Criticism rains down on the State government for prioritizing police deployment for the Nava Kerala Sadas over Sabarimala’s crowd control. The disparity in police presence—615 personnel managing 80,000 daily pilgrims versus 2,200 for the government program—elicits dissatisfaction. Last year’s increase in Kerala Armed Police at Sabarimala hasn’t been replicated, further worsening the situation.
The court has questioned the need for legal oversight due to mounting complaints, though the government assures action on these grievances without immediate legal intervention.
Various factors contribute to the mismanagement, including inexperienced officers, inadequate planning for surges, and congestion at crucial queue points. Insufficient facilities, lack of coordination at transit points like Nilackkal, and discomfort for pilgrims exacerbate the situation, highlighting the pressing need for improved crowd control measures.
The turmoil at Sabarimala echoes a call for urgent reforms to ensure a harmonious pilgrimage experience for devotees, underscoring the necessity for synchronized efforts between authorities for effective crowd management.
