Tue Nov 18 10:21:52 UTC 2025: Summary:
The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala is experiencing massive crowds on the second day of the annual Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Pilgrims are facing long queues and a lack of water. The newly appointed Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, K. Jayakumar, has taken steps to address the issues, including deploying additional personnel to distribute water, regulating queue movement, and restricting the flow of devotees at Nilackal to ease congestion at Pamba. Concerns were raised regarding devotees cutting lines and the fear of losing priority preventing them from utilizing queue complexes where services are available.
News Article:
Sabarimala Temple Overwhelmed by Devotee Surge; Water Shortages Reported
Pathanamthitta, Kerala – November 18, 2025 – Lakhs of devotees are thronging the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, on the second day of the annual Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, leading to significant overcrowding and complaints of water shortages.
Pilgrims have reported waiting in long queues for hours, with limited access to drinking water. The situation has been exacerbated by instances of devotees cutting in line, causing further congestion and safety concerns.
In response to the escalating situation, K. Jayakumar, the newly appointed president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), has announced several emergency measures. “We are deploying 200 additional personnel to provide water to those in the queues,” Mr. Jayakumar stated. “We have also issued instructions to ensure the steady movement of pilgrims and prevent queue jumping.”
To manage the immense crowds, the TDB is restricting the flow of devotees at Nilackal, encouraging them to wait there and utilizing existing facilities. Seven additional spot booking counters will be set up at Nilackal to reduce the need for pilgrims to travel to Pamba for bookings. Capping the number of spot bookings per day is being considered.
The TDB president also addressed the issue of devotees avoiding the designated queue complexes, fearing they might lose their place in line. “If they enter the queue complexes, it would be easier for us to provide them with water and biscuits,” he explained.
Furthermore, 200 cleaning personnel are being brought in from Tamil Nadu to improve sanitation at the temple.
As of Tuesday noon, nearly two lakh devotees had arrived at the shrine since it opened on November 16th. The TDB reports that 1,96,594 devotees have registered, including those using spot booking.
The TDB continues to urge devotees to cooperate with authorities to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage experience for all.
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