Archive · 19 Nov 2025
Sabarimala Implements New Crowd Controls After Massive Pilgrim Rush
Sabarimala got too crowded with too many people trying to see the god at once.
So, they made new rules to control the crowd and help everyone have a better experience.
They limited how many people can enter each day, made new places to buy tickets, and prepared better places for people to wait.
They also sent more people to help with cleaning and making sure everyone follows the rules.
Sabarimala enforced new restrictions after around 2 lakh pilgrims caused severe congestion
Daily entry capped at 1 lakh, real-time darshan bookings at 20,000
Seven new counters at Nilakkal to manage pilgrim flow, groups shifted to next day
Queue complexes along route fully readied with water, meals, and coffee
Additional staff and 200 cleaning workers deployed for sanitation and crowd regulation
- Who
- Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), pilgrims
- What
- Implemented new crowd control measures at Sabarimala
- When
- Wednesday, following a massive pilgrim rush on Tuesday
- Where
- Sabarimala, Nilakkal, Pamba
- Why
- To manage the large influx of pilgrims and ensure a smooth darshan experience
Opposition Leaders' Perspective
TDB President's Perspective
Crowd Planning and Amenities
Opposition Leaders' Perspective
Accused the state government of poor crowd planning and failure to provide essential amenities like drinking water and adequate police strength.
TDB President's Perspective
TDB president attributed the rush to people jumping queues and many virtual-Q holders arriving on different dates from their bookings.
Police Action
Opposition Leaders' Perspective
Criticized police for allowing over 37,000 spot bookings on Tuesday, far above the intended cap.
TDB President's Perspective
ADGP S Sreejith said police were compelled to allow more spot bookings due to devotees demanding same-day entry.
- Daily Entry Cap
- 1 lakh
- Real-time Darshan Booking Cap
- 20,000
- New Counters at Nilakkal
- 7
- Additional Staff Deployed
- 200 (for cleaning and crowd regulation)
- Queue Complexes Prepared
- Along Marakkoottam–Saramkuthi–Sannidhanam route
Sources
Lakhs Queue Up For Sabarimala Pilgrimage, Complaints Of Lack of Water For Devotees
Satheesan slams Kerala govt, TDB over Sabarimala crowd mismanagement
Sabarimala Imposes Entry Limits And New Crowd Controls After Massive Pilgrim Rush
Kerala HC Slams Poor Crowd Control at Sabarimala
Sabarimala Online Booking 2025: How To Book Darshan Tickets For Lord Ayyappa Temple In Kerala
