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Sabarimala: need for infrastructure and amenities stressed

To say that Sabarimala is a logistical nightmare for the Travancore Dewasom Board (TDB) would be an understatement. The politicisation of the TDB and the absence of a master plan have resulted in an ad hoc and seasonal approach in scaling up the facilities. The incessant squabbling between the Forest Department and the TDB has stalled development projects.

That the government has woken up to the seriousness of the matter is evident from the Chief Minister’s recent visit to the shrine. The proposed adoption of the Tirupati model is a welcome move. The setting up of an autonomous body to manage the temple will undoubtedly improve the administration and catalyse a drastic improvement in infrastructure and other amenities. The government should however resist the temptation to pack the council with political nominees and maintain an arms-length relationship with the independent body. Only the best practices followed in Tirupati like construction of self- contained queue complex, free shelters, provision of free food, etc. should be adopted. In many ways Sabarimala is different from Tirupati and therefore requires localised and unique solutions.

V.N. Mukundarajan

Thiruvananthapuram

Sabarimala is totally different from Tirupati and hence the Tirupati model is impractical here. Crores of devotees visit Sabarimala within a short period during Mandala pooja and Makaravilakku season and the gathering will be of lakhs of people at a time. A simple darshan is not the agenda here unlike Tirupati; starting with breaking of coconuts and climbing the 18 steps, the ritual continues to Neyyabhishekhom, dedication of all inside the ‘irumudikkettu’ to the God and so on. So it takes much more time inside the premises of the temple. But there are many simple things which can bring down the crowd at Sabarimala. The shops are totally unwanted as devotees do not come all the way to the hill top for shopping. No shops should be permitted at Sannidhanam and Pamba. Devaswom should provide free food for all devotees and do away with the private hotels also. Minimise staying facilities with less Lodges, guests houses etc. Conduct the Neyyabhishekhom at a designated time as at present but make available the ‘prasadam’ all the time when the temple is open. Accept ghee from devotees and give back the ghee already kept after ‘abhishekhom.’ Another factor contributing to overcrowding is the distribution of aravana. Start numerous counters with automatic vending machines dispensing aravana to the containers brought by the devotees. Start such counters at the Nilackal temple also. M.P. Bipin

By e-mail

The Tirupati model is welcome in Sabarimala. The Tirupati temple is open to the public on all days and at all times with no restriction for non-Hindus. For direct darshan, the devotee can book early and get a token. His photo and finger print will be checked at the temple gate and he will be permitted to go inside for darshan.

If this system is introduced at Sabarimala, it will be helpful for all devotees. The huge rush during the Makara Jyothi time and other seasons can be reduced if it is open on all days and a token system in the Tirupati model will make darshan easy for the public. Also, the Devaswom board will get more benefits out of this new system.

Neelandon Kuruvattoor

Ottappalam

If the Sabarimala temple is open for darshan everyday, the problems presently faced by devotees will be solved. During Mandalam and Makaravilakku seasons the rush will still be there. At the same time, if the temple is open on all days the devotees who want to come to Sabarimala and have darshan on any day of the year can avoid the rush during season time. The aravana problem will be solved by serving it on all days so that there will not be any rush for it. I suggest introducing the Guruvayur model, rather than the Tirupati model, as the Tirupati model includes booking and token system for darshan, in addition to the common public darshan. In Guruvayur, the temple is open every day and even during pooja time the devotees can wait for darshan immediately after that. In Tirupati, there is no restriction based on caste or religion or for ladies of any age. But in the case of Sabarimala, ladies between the age 10 and 50 are not permitted, and Hindus alone are permitted. This is closer to Guruvayur than Tirupati.

P. Sankaranarayanan

Thripunithura

Nowhere else on earth can one see a shrine symbolising universal brotherhood as at Sabarimala. The presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is a symbol of secularism and attracts devotees from all over, with their number swelling year after year. However, the troubles of the pilgrims are many and the assurances on the part of the authorities to improve their lot remain only in rhetoric, accusations, and counter accusations. Undoubtedly, the pilgrims who visit the shrine for the Lord’s blessings are the biggest contributors to the coffers of the shrine and they deserve better systems and amenities. Whether it is the Tirupati model or any other model, what is needed is to provide a condition whereby the pilgrims can have less arduous visits to the temple.

The Justice Paripoornan Commission report and a serial article by former Chief Secretary C.P. Nair which appeared recently in Mathrubhumi daily have elaborated at length the ills and prescribed measures for improvement. If the authorities have the will, they should go through these two documents and initiate a time bound action plan to ensure that at least from the next Sabarimala season the devotees get a better deal.

T.N. Ramachandran Nair

Thrissur

The TDB has beyond doubt failed to provide the Sabarimala pilgrims the necessary amenities to have an easy darshan of Lord Ayyappa. The rift between the president and the other two members of the TDB added fuel to the fire. The callous and irresponsible ways of the TDB officials is enough to put an end to their control over the hill shrine. An autonomous body entrusted only with the affairs of Sabarimala can run it smoothly. The Tirupati model will definitely work at Sabarimala. A monitoring committee may be constituted under the supervision of the High Court to see to it that everything is fool-proof. The revenue from Sabarimala may be utilised for providing and developing infrastructure there.

V.P. Ramesan

Thripunithura

Pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a matter of faith for devotees. Their supreme desire is for a darshan of Lord Ayyappa even though it is for a few fleeting seconds. Any amount of difficulty during the journey, stay, or in getting prasadam, is borne with a smile and they rarely complain about lack of amenities. In their trials and tribulations, they see the call of the deity. It is the people who go there prompted by reasons other than pure devotion who want amenities like good accommodation, comfortable darshan and prasadams delivered to their rooms. Whatever be the efforts of the government, seva sanghoms and other philanthrophists, the problem of importing comfort to this pilgrimage cannot be solved.

M. Ramankutty

Thripunithura

Convenience and comfort all along the route till the shrine are the sine qua non for the smooth conduct of every holy trek undertaken by any devotee of the Lord. Introduction of the Tirupati model will, doubtless, alleviate the travails to an appreciable extent. At Tirupati too devotees have to stand in lengthy queues to reach the sanctum sanctorum. But all along the route there are provisions for pure drinking water, light refreshments, and most importantly, hygienic toilet facilities. These arrangements are worth emulating and will surely earn the gratitude of lakhs of Ayyappa devotees.

K.B. Rajagopalan

Kochi

Before making arrangements in Sabarimala similar to that of Tirupati, a detailed study should be made by the authorities. The famous Tirupati temple is open to the devotees throughout the year and a sudden gush of devotees is not seen in any particular month or days as in Sabarimala. An average of 10,000 devotees visit Tirupati temple in a day and the queue system adopted there mitigates the problems of the devotees, but in Sabarimala, during the festive season, especially Makaravilakku days, lakhs of devotees visit the holy hillock. The queue system in Tirupati can be adopted but the percentage of success has to ascertained after a trial run. As in Tirupati, the government can create adequate infrastructure for providing medical assistance, drinking water and other basic amenities to the pilgrims.

Maju Balakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram

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