Pathanamthitta, 12 Feb (H.S.):

The hill shrine of Sabarimala will open on Thursday evening for the monthly Kumbha poojas, marking the beginning of another important phase in the temple’s ritual calendar and drawing thousands of devotees from across Kerala and neighbouring states.

The temple doors will be opened at 5 pm in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanar, with Melsanthi E.D. Prasad performing the customary rituals to commence the pooja schedule. Regular darshan for pilgrims will begin early Friday morning at 5 am, coinciding with the first day of the Malayalam month of Kumbham.

Temple authorities have announced that special rituals will be conducted throughout the pooja period. After the evening deeparadhana each day, the traditional Padipooja will be performed at the sacred Pathinettampadi (18 holy steps), a ceremony considered spiritually significant by devotees. The Kumbha month poojas will conclude on February 17, and the shrine will close at 10 pm that night.

In a relief for pilgrims, the ongoing general strike on Thursday will not affect those travelling to Sabarimala. Devotees have been exempted from strike-related disruptions to ensure smooth access to the temple.

To manage the heavy rush, the Travancore Devaswom Board has continued the virtual queue system. Up to 50,000 pilgrims will be permitted daily through online booking slots during the pooja days. However, on Friday, the first day when darshan begins, entry will be restricted to 30,000 devotees to facilitate orderly crowd management.

Transportation arrangements have also been strengthened. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has scheduled around 80 special services for pilgrims from Pathanamthitta, Chengannur, and Kumily depots. Of these, 54 buses will operate continuously on the busy Nilakkal–Pampa route, which serves as the primary transit corridor for devotees heading to the hill shrine.

Officials said the additional buses and regulated entry system are aimed at ensuring a safe and comfortable pilgrimage experience while preventing overcrowding.

With preparations in place and rituals set to begin, thousands of devotees are expected to throng Sabarimala in the coming days to seek blessings during the auspicious Kumbha month.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman