The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) should explore the possibility of facilitating daily darshan at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple with a view to avoiding overcrowding at the holy hillock, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
Mr. Vijayan suggested the importance of introducing a ropeway system for transportation of pilgrims between Pampa and the Sannidhanam, besides a paid ‘fast-track darshan’ facility at the temple.
The Chief Minister was addressing an official review meeting at Anjaneya Auditorium at Pampa on Thursday.
Mr. Vijayan said facilitating daily holy darshan at the temple was a pragmatic approach to address many development issues as well as overcrowding problems. Introducing a modern ropeway system which could carry at least 20 people in a cabin and transport as many as 10,000 to 15,000 pilgrims between Pampa and the Sannidhanam during an hour would be of great help to pilgrims.
The Chief Minister said VIP darshan at Sabarimala should be stopped. Instead, a `fast-track’ and `super-fast-track’ system for darshan should be introduced at a fee of Rs.250 and Rs.1,000 respectively on the lines of the darshan system at Tirupati Devasthanam.
“Earlier, the Ayyappa temple used to be kept opened only during a particular period every year. Later, the TDB decided to open the temple for monthly rituals. And hence the board should also explore the possibility of keeping the temple open throughout the year,’’ Mr Vijayan said.
Visit cancelledThe Chief Minister had to cancel his maiden visit to the Sannidhanam due to incessant rain. Mr. Vijayan, who reached Pampa around 9.30 a.m., waited at the Devaswom Guest House at Pampa till 10.30 a.m. Finally, he cancelled his plan to trek as the path turned slippery in the rain. Mr. Vijayan said he would visit the Sannidhanam before the beginning of the pilgrim season.
