Sabarimala Faces Revenue Decline of Rs 20 Crore Compared to Last Year

The revenue at Sabarimala has witnessed a significant drop of Rs 20 crore compared to last year due to challenges in crowd control and a low number of pilgrims at the beginning of the Mandala season, attributed in part to heavy rains. The pilgrimage has completed 28 days, and a decline in devotee numbers has impacted coin revenue as well as sales of traditional offerings like appam and aravana. The Devaswom Board attributes the initial drop in pilgrim numbers to the floods in Chennai, but critics argue that this is not a sufficient explanation as pilgrims come from various regions. The High Court intervened to limit the number of devotees to 90,000 per day, and the Devaswom Board is considering approaching the court to increase the virtual queue booking limit, which is currently set at 80,000, to address revenue concerns.

Despite the challenges, the board implemented measures to improve the pilgrimage experience, including the deployment of experienced police for traffic control, resulting in smoother darshan for devotees in recent days. The number of pilgrims climbing the 18th step has increased, and the board may seek court permission to raise the booking limit after providing better facilities. The revenue loss and challenges faced during the pilgrimage season have sparked discussions about the need for improved crowd management, infrastructure, and coordination to ensure a more seamless and fulfilling pilgrimage experience for devotees in the future.