Mandatory Crowd Control Measures Announced for Makaravilakku Festival at Sabarimala
The arrangements are being implemented jointly by the police, district administration, Travancore Devaswom Board and other allied departments.
Pathanamthitta: In view of the annual Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala, the Pathanamthitta district police have announced a series of mandatory guidelines and crowd control measures to ensure pilgrim safety, smooth movement and effective emergency response. The arrangements are being implemented jointly by the police, district administration, Travancore Devaswom Board and other allied departments.
According to a press release issued by district police chief R. Anand, strict restrictions will be enforced on virtual queue bookings for the peak pilgrimage days. Virtual queue bookings for January 13, 2026, have been capped at 35,000 pilgrims, while bookings for January 14, 2026, which is Makaravilakku day, have been restricted to 30,000 pilgrims. Pilgrims without a valid virtual queue booking will not be permitted to proceed for darshan.
The police have cautioned that unregulated arrivals without confirmed bookings could adversely affect crowd management and overall safety. Pilgrims, particularly those travelling from other states, have been advised to plan their journey strictly in accordance with their allotted virtual queue time slots.
In addition to virtual queue regulations, several travel, trekking and parking restrictions have been imposed. Pilgrims will not be permitted to travel from Nilakkal to Pampa after 9 am on January 14, 2026. Trekking from Pampa to Sannidhanam will not be allowed after 10 am on the same day. Parking of vehicles at Pampa will be completely prohibited from January 12, 2026, onwards.
The police have also advised pilgrims not to rush towards Pampa immediately after the Makarajyothi darshan. Adequate KSRTC buses have been arranged and kept on standby to transport devotees in a phased and orderly manner. Authorities stressed that there is no need for panic or haste, as transportation facilities will be made continuously available.
Pilgrims have been urged to strictly follow police instructions, barricading arrangements and phased movement plans. The police warned that unnecessary rushing could lead to overcrowding and dangerous situations, including the risk of stampede. Cooperation from all devotees, the release said, is essential to ensure a safe, peaceful and incident-free Makaravilakku pilgrimage.
