Sabarimala temple has extended its darshan hours by three additional hours to manage the growing influx of devotees during the pilgrimage season. Starting from Saturday, the temple will close at 3 pm instead of the previous 1 pm, while the opening time has been shifted to 4 pm, an hour earlier than before. This change is expected to greatly benefit devotees by providing more time for pilgrimage and easing congestion at the holy site.
In light of the rush, the Devaswom board has arranged for Chukku Vellam (dry ginger water) to be served to devotees at the base of the 18 divine steps leading to the temple. However, despite the extended hours and these arrangements, there are growing concerns over the lack of proper accommodation at Sannidhanam. Key facilities, including the Sabari Guest House, Staff Quarters, and Pilgrim Centers, are under renovation, leaving devotees without adequate lodging options.
The failure of officials to ensure basic amenities, especially during the peak pilgrimage season, has attracted criticism from several quarters. There are also complaints regarding insufficient police personnel to manage the crowd, with only 170 officers currently deployed. The lack of adequate control and facilities is becoming a major issue for the vast number of pilgrims visiting the temple, with calls for urgent action to improve the situation.
