Sabarimala temple faces chaos, criticism due to poor crowd management

| Updated: 14 December, 2023 1:37 pm IST

Devotees had a harrowing experience at Pamba before ascending the Holy steps.

SABARIMALA: The hill shrine of Sabarimala witnessed scenes of chaos and discontent as devotees faced difficulties during their pilgrimage. Poor crowd management and a lack of coordination between various departments, including the police and the Devaswom board responsible for temple management, led to a backlash from devotees.

Thousands of worshippers encountered a nightmare as children and the elderly struggled for hours to navigate the steep hills on their way to the ‘Sannidhanam,’ the sanctum sanctorum, to offer prayers. The mismanagement by officials left many devotees frustrated, prompting some to cut short their pilgrimage and return to their hometowns—a rare occurrence during this season.

FLASH: Kerala High Court directs @pinarayivijayan govt. to address concerns of Hindu pilgrims to #Sabarimala, emphasizing the need for enhanced arrangements.

Concerns raised over disparities in treatment compared to efforts for other religious communities, highlighting apparent… pic.twitter.com/59eoFl3Hi8

— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 13, 2023

Criticism was directed at Devaswom officials and the police for failing to provide basic amenities such as food and water for those waiting in long queues. Disappointed devotees expressed their dissatisfaction with the overall crowd management.

Sreenivas Moorthy, a 45-year-old devotee, told The New Indian, “It’s an extremely poor management of crowds that has led to this situation. This time around, even though the virtual and spot booking was very high, the authorities should have found an alternative.”

FLASH: Disturbing scenes unfold at Sabarimala as devotees suffer inhuman conditions due to poor management.

Heart-wrenching scenes of children begging police to find their parents. #sabarimalaPilgrim #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/BMrLMxnZro

— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 13, 2023

Despite efforts by a team of 14 police personnel deployed on the sacred steps and an additional 15 at Sopanam (in front of the sanctum sanctorum) for crowd management, reports suggest that the inexperience of police personnel and a lack of coordination contributed to the crisis.

Urgent Situation Update at #Sabarimala: Devotees express concern over the lack of security officials at #Sannidhanam, leading to difficulties for children and the elderly.

Despite the continuous flow of pilgrims, safety measures seem inadequate. Reports indicate a surge in… pic.twitter.com/ZRXbTICCGb

— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 13, 2023

An official from Sabarimala highlighted the deviation from the usual system in place to manage crowds, especially when reaching Pamba. The prescribed number of people allowed to climb to the Sannidhanam was allegedly surpassed, leading to a significant flaw in crowd control.

The chaos at Sabarimala is attributed to three main factors: poor crowd management at Sannidhanam, inadequate bus services from Nilakkal to Pampa, and an absence of volunteers along the trekking path, according to a retired police officer from Pathanamthitta.

Despite a surge in the number of pilgrims, with an average of 80,000 visiting the temple daily through virtual bookings and around 10,000 through spot bookings, the situation escalated with two devotees losing their lives during the current season.

Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan defended the government and the temple board against allegations, attributing delays to a significant increase in the number of visitors, including women, children, differently-abled individuals, and the elderly.

However, the poor crowd management has ignited a political war of words, with the BJP and Congress criticising the ruling left government for its focus on other events, such as the ‘Nava Kerala Sadas,’ at the expense of addressing the issues faced by devotees at Sabarimala.