Sat Dec 27 12:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

The number of pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple during the 41-day Mandala season in 2025 saw a decrease compared to the previous year. Approximately 3.001 million pilgrims visited this year, down from 3.249 million last year. The drop is attributed to stricter regulations on virtual queue and spot booking systems. The virtual queue was capped at 70,000 per day, and spot bookings were reduced to 5,000. The Mandala season concluded on December 27th with the closure of the temple. The temple will reopen on December 30th for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage, with the Makaravilakku festival scheduled for January 14th.

News Article:

Sabarimala Pilgrim Numbers Dip Amid Stricter Booking Regulations

Manorama Correspondent
December 27, 2025

SABARIMALA – The recently concluded Mandala season at the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple witnessed a decline in pilgrim numbers compared to the previous year, with approximately 3.001 million devotees visiting the shrine during the 41-day period. This is a drop from the 3.249 million pilgrims who visited during the same period in 2024.

Temple authorities attribute the decrease to stricter regulations implemented for the virtual queue (online booking) and spot booking systems aimed at managing crowd flow and ensuring a smoother pilgrimage experience.

“We capped the virtual queue at 70,000 pilgrims per day, and spot bookings were limited to 5,000,” a temple official confirmed. Pilgrims attempting to book virtual queue slots reportedly found availability fully booked until January 10th. These numbers are significantly lower than the virtual queue spots available last year during the Thanga Anki procession and Mandala Puja.

The peak day for pilgrimage was November 19th, with 102,299 devotees visiting the temple. The lowest turnout was recorded on December 12th, with 49,738 pilgrims.

The Mandala season concluded tonight with the traditional closing rituals. The temple will reopen on December 30th at 5 PM for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage. The Makaravilakku festival, a significant event in the Sabarimala calendar, is scheduled for January 14th.

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