Chennai: Pilgrims heading to Sabarimala for Makara Jyothi this year are a harried lot as the new measures introduced by the state government to improve their service has put Ayappa devotees through a lot of hardship.
Vehicular traffic is regulated at many spots on the way to Pampa to avoid pilgrim congestion both at Pampa and Sabarimala. Pilgrims, however, have no information as to when their vehicles will be allowed to proceed to Pampa as police are clueless too. Not just reaching Pampa, even darshan of the Lord is likely to take long hours if the pilgrims have not secured E-queue tokens well in advance through internet.
J. Nagamalleswar Rao, an employee in Tata Motor Finance, Ongole, has alleged that their 10 member team was forced to stand for 6 hours in the queue line between Marakootam and Sannidhanam on January 6th evening without water or food. He said that he would not have ventured to trek the hill if there was information on the duration for darshan while pointing to his mother and two children, who are part of the team.
A bigger shock waiting for the pilgrims this year is abnormal increase in room tariff at Sabarimala. The Devotees are fuming at Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the Ayyappa temple, for unprecedented hike in the tariff of the rooms and reducing the checkout time to 12 hours and 16 hours.
Ardent devotee and founder member of popular Ayyappa temple at Anna Nagar in Chennai, V.Venkateswaran Iyer wonders what could be rationale behind devotes forced to vacate room at unearthly hours. “When they will prepare to perform Neyyabhishekam and complete their pilgrimage? ” 79 year old Iyer alleged.
Police Controller of Sabarimala Sannidhanam Debesh Kumar Behra said that they are well equipped to deal with any situation. Police officials also said that pilgrims will not be allowed to climb Neelimala after 12’0 clock on January 14 to ensure hassle free way for Tiruvabharanam (the ornaments of the Lord) reach Sabari. They have advised the pilgrims not to bring crackers or climb rooftops and trees for vantage view of celestial light while pointing to the threat to their lives.
