The TDB has urged devotees arriving for Sabarimala darshan to secure their slots through the virtual queue system as far as possible.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Based on a Kerala High Court order, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Thursday (November 20, 2025) announced that spot booking for Sabarimala darshan has been capped at 5,000 per day.
While spot booking will be available only at Nilackal and Vandiperiyar, the spot booking centres at Pampa, Erumely, and Chengannur have been suspended. The restrictions on spot booking will remain in place till November 24.
The TDB has urged devotees arriving for Sabarimala darshan to secure their slots through the virtual queue system as far as possible.
Kerala High Court Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar on Wednesday criticised the TDB saying that the situation at the hill shrine had recently spiralled out of control as nearly 2 lakh pilgrims arrived within 48 hours of the temple opening on November 17. With the entire pilgrimage zone overwhelmed by an extraordinary surge of devotees, crowd management measures were stretched to their limits during his period.
Referring to the large crowd at Sabarimala on Tuesday, the court said “chaos was the direct result of the authorities’ failure to follow earlier court instructions.”
With nearly 1 pilgrims allowed darshan every day during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season and more than 50 lakh visiting annually, the judges said the present arrangements were far from adequate.
Published – November 20, 2025 01:48 pm IST
