Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

All set for Sabarimala pilgrimage

— Photo: Leju Kamal

Arrangements in place: The vented crossbar-cum-footbridge constructed across the Pampa in the downstream of ‘arattukadavu’ on the foothills of Sabarimala.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Sabarimala is all set to receive devotees from all over the country and abroad during the 64-day annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival that begins on Sunday. The Travancore Devaswom Board and various government agencies are making last-minute arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.

The High Power Committee chaired by Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar has given special emphasis on sanitation and hygiene at the pilgrim centre. The Sabarimala Sanitation Society has deployed 600 sanitation workers at Pampa, Sannidhanam, Nilackal and along the trekking path on Friday. Mr. Jayakumar stressed the need for continuous cleaning drive at the region throughout the season.

Hundreds of pilgrims are camping at Pampa on the foothills of Sabarimala since Thursday to offer prayers at the Ayyappa Temple on the opening day itself. The police had prevented the pilgrims from climbing the hills at Pampa till Friday as cleaning operation was under way at Sannidhanam.

The Health Department opened dispensaries at Pampa and Sannidhanam on Friday. Two cardiology centres at Appachimedu and Neelimala will be opened on Saturday.

A 150-strong Rapid Action Force attached to the Central Reserve Police Force and State commandos have reached Sabarimala. They will take positions at sensitive points on Saturday itself. Inspector General of Police Arunkumar Sinha, who is also the Police Co-ordinator at Sabarimala, said that all steps had been taken to ensure safety of pilgrims and security of the temple. Bomb detection squads and special intelligence teams had been deployed at Sabarimala, he said. P. Vijayan and A.V. George have taken charge as police special officer at Sannidhanam and Pampa respectively.

Sabarimala Executive Officer Balachandran said the Board had 10 lakh cans (250 ml) of aravana as buffer stock. Round-the-clock production was in progress at the Aravana plant to ensure smooth distribution of aravana during the pilgrim season.

Dhanalakshmi Bank will run the prasadom counters at Sannidhanam.

Sale of prasadom coupons has begun at select branches of the bank in different parts of the country. Mr. Balachandran said the TDB godown at Sannidhanam has sufficient stock of eco-friendly cans and flip lids to meet the requirements of the season. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan is to visit Pampa on Saturday forenoon to review the arrangements. G. Sudhakaran, Devaswom Minister, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Home Minister, Mathew T. Thomas, Transport Minister, Benoy Viswom, Forest Minister, N.K. Premachandran, Water Resources Minister and Law Minister M. Vijayakumar will accompany the Chief Minister.

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