The Sabarimala hill shrine has witnessed an extraordinary surge in pilgrim numbers during the 2024 Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. As of December 25, 2024, over 32.5 lakh devotees have visited the sacred temple, marking an increase of 4 lakh pilgrims compared to last year.
Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan confirmed that the pilgrimage is progressing smoothly despite the heavy influx of visitors. To ensure seamless crowd management, authorities have implemented a daily cap of 70,000 pilgrims, with 60,000 bookings available online and an additional 10,000 slots for spot bookings.
Preparations are in full swing for the Thiruvabharanam procession, a significant ritual leading up to the Makaravilakku festival on January 14. After closing briefly on December 26 following the Mandala Pooja, the temple is scheduled to reopen on December 30 for the second phase of the pilgrimage.
The surge in pilgrim numbers highlights the deep-rooted devotion to Lord Ayyappa and the effective measures taken by temple authorities to ensure safety and smooth operations. The Sabarimala temple, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites, continues to draw millions of devotees every year, embodying faith, discipline, and tradition.
