Wed Oct 16 14:57:41 UTC 2024: ## Sabarimala Temple to Resume Spot Bookings Amidst Controversy
**Pathanamthitta, October 16, 2024:** The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has announced the opening of virtual queue bookings for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, setting a daily cap of 70,000 pilgrims. However, the remaining 10,000 spots are expected to be allocated through spot bookings, sparking speculation and controversy.
The move comes after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared that pilgrims arriving without prior online registration would still be permitted to have darshan at the hill temple. While the TDB maintains that a decision on the remaining slots will be made later, sources suggest these are being reserved for spot bookings.
“Even though darshan is officially restricted to online bookings, the Board anticipates a certain number of pilgrims arriving without prior registration. These reserved slots will be allocated to such individuals,” an official stated.
Last year, an average of 20,000 pilgrims entered the temple daily through spot bookings, overwhelming crowd control measures. The high number of spot bookings in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons prompted the government to initially discontinue the practice.
However, the move sparked political controversy with opposition parties and even the Communist Party of India (CPI), a member of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), criticizing the decision.
The TDB’s latest announcement marks a significant shift in policy and is likely to be met with mixed reactions. The potential resumption of spot bookings could alleviate pressure on the online registration system and provide flexibility for devotees, but also raises concerns regarding crowd management and safety.
First Piper 