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The route of darshan of devotees in Sabarimala temple of Kerala has been changed. Devotees of Sabarimala had been demanding a change in the route for a long time. Now the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to change the ‘darshan’ route in Sabarimala, allowing devotees to have direct darshan while climbing the 18 holy steps in Sannidhanam. TDB Chairman P S Prashanth said that this change will be implemented for trial from March 15 during the monthly puja and will continue for 12 days during Vishu Puja.
Prashant said, “If it proves successful, this change will be made permanent during the next Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.” He said that the board has received many requests including thousands of letters from devotees, urging to modify the route to facilitate better darshan experience while climbing the 18 holy steps.
Darshan time will be 25 seconds instead of 5
Prashant told a press conference, “At present, devotees climbing the holy stairs are taken to a bridge where they stand in line and wait before going to the other side for darshan. Due to this arrangement, they hardly get five seconds for darshan and about 80 percent of the lakhs of devotees visiting Sabarimala do not get a satisfactory experience.” The decision was taken after obtaining permission from the temple tantri and detailed discussions with stakeholders. Prashant said, “With the new arrangement, each devotee will get about 20 to 25 seconds for darshan.”
Ayyappa devotees meeting will be held
To involve Ayyappa devotees in the development of the temple, the board will also organize a global Ayyappa devotees meeting at Pamba. Prashant highlighted that the board lacks adequate funds for development projects in Sabarimala and this meeting will provide an opportunity to devotees to contribute eagerly. “It will not be a big gathering. We are expecting around 150 participants. The plan is to hold it as a two-day event in May when the temple opens for monthly pooja,” he said.
Devotees can buy pendants online
Prashanth announced that GRT Jewellers of Tamil Nadu and Kalyan Jewellers of Kerala have won the tender to provide gold pendants engraved with the image of Lord Ayyappa. These pendants will be available in sizes of 1 gram, 2 grams, 4 grams and 8 grams and will be distributed on April 14 as ‘Vishukkainettam’. “Devotees who wish to buy these pendants can book them online through the website www.sabarimalaonline.org from April 1,” he said.
30 per cent hike in offering rates
The Travancore Devaswom Board has also decided to hike the temple offering rates by 30 per cent. Prashant informed that the rates were last revised in 2016, though the board is empowered by the high court to revise them every five years. “Due to floods and the Covid-19 pandemic, we were unable to implement any increase in rates. However, after nine years, we are revising the rates after consultation with stakeholders, recommendations of the Lokpal and approval of the high court. The cost of essential commodities has increased threefold in the last nine years, leaving us with no option but to adjust the rates,” Prashant said. He further said that the board’s expenditure on salaries and pensions was Rs 380 crore in 2016, which has now increased to Rs 910 crore in 2025.
