Kerala Stands Firm on Online-Only Booking for Sabarimala Pilgrimage Amid Opposition

Kerala's government has implemented an online-only booking system for the Sabarimala pilgrimage to streamline the process and ensure safety. Despite opposition calls for spot bookings, Minister Vasavan highlighted the necessity for crowd control, citing past overcrowding issues. Infrastructure improvements are promised to enhance the pilgrim experience.

In a decisive move to regulate the flow of pilgrims during the Sabarimala pilgrimage, Kerala's Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan announced the government's commitment to an online-only booking system. This decision, discussed in a legislative assembly session, seeks to alleviate the challenges posed by spot bookings, which historically led to overwhelming crowds.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan made an impassioned plea, expressing concerns over the abolition of spot bookings, especially for devotees from other states unfamiliar with the new system. Satheesan advocated for the restoration of spot bookings, arguing that this would prevent the exclusion of thousands of devotees undertaking spiritual vows who might otherwise miss out on their pilgrimage.

Minister Vasavan countered these concerns by referencing a previous virtual meeting where the Chief Minister, Devaswom Board, police, and district authorities agreed that daily pilgrim numbers should not exceed 80,000. He assured that new measures, including virtual queue booking and real-time updates, would enhance the pilgrimage experience. The minister affirmed the government's openness to feedback for continuous improvement.

(With inputs from agencies.)