Kerala   

Need for better amenities stressed

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

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. This Sabarimala season was, sad to say, riddled with more thorny, avoidable problems, which pilgrims had to face with silent anguish. There are loud protestations of improvement in the next season. Over the years these promises pour forth with repetitive irony and amusing regularity, shattering the expectations of lakhs of devotees who enrich the Devaswom coffers to the tune of several crores of rupees.

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

It is beyond the capacity of the government or the Ayyappa Seva Sanghom or any other NGO to ensure a reasonably comfortable and safe pilgrimage and darshan to the millions of pilgrims simply because of inadequacy of infrastructure. Any haphazard or ad hoc development will involve deforestation and environmental hazards, leading to erosion in the sanctity of the place. Everyone expects reasonable amenities and conveniences, but not luxury.

Several suggestions have been made to ease the situation. But it will be safe to put in place a well established system – the Tirupati model.

A good transport system, food and shelter at affordable cost, excellent sanitation and medical facilities for the pilgrims, and above all, a shrine open throughout the year are the assurances of the administration

The daily darshan facility as in Tirupati will help reduce the seasonal pilgrim rush and pressure on facilities. All conveniences can be maintained at an optimum level of efficiency and the pilgrims can have longer darshan time. No shortage of any kind will be felt and the pilgrims will be relieved of suffocation and suffering.

G.K. Iyer

Mavelikara

During this Sabarimala season it was estimated that more than three-and-a-half crore pilgrims visited the shrine. The entire area of the temple and its premises is too small to accommodate so many people. It is undoubtedly a herculean task to manage such a crowd. Problems of law and order, health, suffocating atmosphere, non-availability of drinking water, inadequate comfort stations etc. cause untold misery to the pilgrims. This unhealthy situation causes the spread of different infectious diseases also.

The State governments make sincere efforts to make the pilgrimage smooth, but it is beyond the control of the authorities.

The only solution for this problem is to avoid such an unmanageable crowd during a particular season. In the past, when the whole area was a thick forest full of wild animals, pilgrimage had to be limited to a particular season.

Now, as a practical step, the temple should be kept open throughout the year. Steps are already underway for connecting Sabarimala by rail and once it materialises people can go and come back on the same day comfortably.

T.M. Paily

Kothamangalam

Pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a matter of faith for devotees. 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. The best they can do is to provide clean latrines and bathing ghats and also prompt medical attention in case of need. Other items, the pilgrims are able to overcome.

M. Ramankutty

Thripunithura

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