The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has initiated steps to bring about a comprehensive change in the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The first meeting for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival for 2026-27 and an evaluation of the previous season were held at the TDB headquarters here on Friday.
The Festival Control Office for the upcoming season will start functioning in Pampa in April. A separate Budget will be prepared exclusively for the festival, in addition to the TDB’s general Budget. It was also decided to audit the festival accounts in real time under the leadership of a chartered accountant.
TDB president K. Jayakumar presented the new approach document for the next pilgrimage season in the meeting. The detailed approach document is under 5 headings—safety, cleanliness, services, atmosphere, communication, and public relations. The approach document, which gives utmost importance to service to devotees, is aimed at ensuring professional standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
Special training will be given to all Devaswom employees who will be part of Sabarimala duty in the months of August and September. More technical assistance will be ensured for crowd management and safety of devotees. Instructions will be issued to complete the renovation works at least a month before the start of the festival season. Free mobile charging points will be installed for devotees at various points in the Sannidhanam. If necessary, more additions will be made to the approach document in the upcoming Devaswom Board meetings.
Published – February 06, 2026 08:06 pm IST
