Ayyappa devotees will not be allowed to view the Makara Jyothi from the rooftops of guest houses at Sabarimala this year, to prevent any untoward incidents due to overcrowding.

Temple authorities are not going to allow anyone to assemble on rooftops this year. Steps are also being taken to prevent overcrowding at Pampa, Sannidhanam and Pulmedu area in view of last year's stampede at Pulmedu. It may be recalled that more than 100 pilgrims were killed soon after the celestial light appeared in the sky on January 14 last year.

In this backdrop, the temple administration created open spaces at various places at Sabarimala to enable devotees to witness the holy event.

Speaking to this newspaper, executive officer of Sabarimala Mr M. Satheesh Kumar said that they had imposed various restrictions to avoid assembling of devotees in large numbers at Sannidhanam.

He claimed that crowding at Sannidhanam was reduced considerably this year because the temple is open between 3 am and 1 pm and 3 pm and 11.50 pm. Admitting that the newly introduced e-queue system was a success, he said that the facility was widely utilised by educated devotees and they were keen on finding methods to extend the facility to other devotees also.

It may be mentioned here that Kerala police introduced a virtual queue system for darshan at Sabarimala during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season that began on November 17 last year.

Under this system, devotees can make bookings online and ensure their place in a separate queue. This was devised to avoid overcrowding and congestion at Sabarimala.

Reacting to a question on giving priority in darshan to devotees trekking the 50 km long traditional path from Erumeli to Pampa by foot, as was done by the TTD, Mr Satheesh Kumar said that they favoured this and it will be taken up in the next board meeting.