Among India’s major pilgrimage spots, the hill-shrine of Sabarimala has a unique ethos that welcomes people from all religions. This year the number is one of the highest for the Makaravilakku season: upwards of one crore people. In recent years, especially in the wake of a stampede that claimed 53 lives in 1999, the Kerala government has taken several measures to improve crowd management around the shrine and along the access routes. However, these have been largely nullified by the phenomenal increase in numbers. Pilgrims continue to face extreme hardship all along the way. This season witnessed traffic hold-ups stretching up to 45 km (at one point) along the main route, inducing many pilgrims to take largely unsupervised paths that run through the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Uppupara or Pulmedu in Idukki district, where more than a hundred people tragically lost their lives on January 14, is along one of these alternative paths. An estimated 250,000 people were on the grassy slopes to watch the Makarajyothi — but there was no lighting and no regulation of movement. As a mass of people started their return journey in the dark, it became a free-for-all — and a wayward vehicle set off a deadly stampede. Many questions about the causes and circumstances of the tragedy remain.
The practical suggestions made by a succession of committees for a safe and satisfying Sabarimala pilgrimage need to be implemented, factoring in the rapid growth in numbers. The real challenge in Sabarimala is to retain the ecologically fragile environment — the forest setting at its verdant and serene best — while expanding infrastructure and creating sustainable basic facilities for optimal pilgrim turnaround, and to regulate and streamline the flow. Given that the temple area is confined and extremely difficult to access, there needs to be a comprehensive assessment of carrying capacities at a given point. On the basis of such data, access should be restricted through viable means: one suggestion, for example, was a system of e-registration of pilgrims. The Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu has an effective system of issuing ‘yatra slips’ to limit the number of pilgrims on any given day. More transit camps are needed to regulate the flow of pilgrims. One suggestion to mitigate the hardship came from the Kerala High Court: spread the pilgrim season through the year. The proposals in the Master Plan for Sabarimala that seek to lay equal emphasis on infrastructure development and the conservation of the region must also be acted upon quickly.
Keywords: Sabarimala stampede
The issue of Pilgrim safety is not new but scant attention has been paid by authorities to this matter.In India wide gap exists between the facilities offered to pilgrims.Every year pilgrims throng the shrines and processions in thousands and lakhs in places like Amarnath Yatra,Jagannath Rath Yatra , Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.The tragedy in the Hill- Shrine of Sabrimala must open the eyes of sleeping authorities.Similar tragedy had happened few times at the Mecca(Saudi Arabia) also.I didnot read or hear PM, President or any top dignitary expressing concern or concrete steps towards safety management at pilgrimage sites. This shows the lackadaisical and lax attitude of authorities. The government authorities need to be proactive towards Safety Management aspect in all pilgrimage sites across India.Then only we can avert recuirrence of such unfortunate but man-madeincidents in future.
The whole Ayyappan story is a legend. When will folk wake up and smell the coffee? Not going on the pilgrimage has benefits: it will give him the chance to marry his consort (Maligapurathamma) and also save human lives (not to speak of reducing carbon emissions!).
Even before the tears have been wiped out of eyes of the kin of the deceased,the political blame-game has begun in Kerala. Whoever is responsible for this tragedy,will not be able to give back the lost lives. As happens in all such cases,now, a probe had been ordered to look into the causes of tragedy. But why don't we remember at least once that 'Prevention is better than cure'? Every time we wake up to a new type of disaster-natural or man-made,and try to cope up with its consequences. Then we set up committees,institutions or other mechanisms to prevent that from happening again.Don't we have men with vision at the helm of our ruling machinery? Yes,the efforts undertaken to cope with such tragedies need to be appreciated,but it is high time we started thinking and planning ahead. Especially,to avoid any such untoward incident in the future.
I suggest that if there is a ticket system introduced in hugely crowded temples, then it would be easy to monitor the crowd. Also if the ticket rates are kept high, then the crowd can be kept under control. There are 3 ways for reaching sabarimala by walk. The ticket should be issued at these three locations. When the sold tickets reach the threshold limit (say 2 lakhs), the pilgrims can be stopped by not issuing further tickets and further entry is blocked. When anything is free there would always be crowd. The money collected for ticket can be used for temple renovation, infrastructure etc.,
The suggestion to spread the pilgrim season throughout the year seems wise but it is not considering the fact that the 'makara jyothi' is an auspicious day for Ayyappa devotees which comes once a year, which makes that particular day more important than any other days of pilgrim season. Unlike other pilgrim spots in India, where devotees can be issued 'yatra slips', Sabarimala temple has its own rituals which makes it active for just 41 days in an year. Any attempt to limit the number of devotees on "makar jyothi" would displease the devotees. Instead government should focus on improving the crowd handling ability and inculcate better safety measures.
Stampede at a pious palce of Sabarimala is really digusting.Both the government and the pilgrims are to be held responsible for this mayhem - government for inadequate policies and measures,the visitors for lack of discipline.It is a high time for the government to take corrective steps considering the rising death toll. It can be a pragmatic option to open the registration centres at different places which can be accesssible for one and all.Free registration should be made mandatory so that even a poor can afford visiting the place.Alone the government policies are not going to bolster the situation. The mass also need to reform.
Health and safety has always been a issue independent of whether you are in Kumbha Mela or places like Sabarimalai or Kumbakonam. Pilgrims safety is paramount and the responsibility lies with the state government to deploy police or private agencies/NGOS as this is a high revenue earning shrine.
The death of 104 pilgrims at Sabarimala obviously in the stampede following the celestial flame on January 14th was not only avoidable but also is man-made. Because of the callous administrative and security measures of the state authorities, the tragedy was waiting in the wings [or woods]. The mobilization of lakhs of devotees during the Celestial Flame was known much ahead, but the authorities as usual were indifferent and unprepared. Stampede is not a new occurrence during religious gathering of such enormous proportion, but the success of any state administration lies in crowd control and management. There are also numerous Enquiry Reports gathering dust in various states on the matter. Even in Sabarimala, the 1998 stampede is a case in point. Every year, the state government valiantly speaks of a Master Plan for Sabarimala to be forgotten after the season and the media attention are over. Both the Centre and the State are to be blamed for this avoidable tragedy. It is high time both the governments acted in harmony and implemented the so-called Sabarimala Master Plan to alleviate the sufferings of the nearly four Crore Pilgrims who throng the state of three-Crore Population. The pilgrims deserve more concern and consideration than sufferings and bereavement. The lone silver line in the tragedy is the adequate measures the state has taken to dispatch the dead bodies to their home towns. The pilgrims received the dignity after their deaths which they desered when alive.
First of all, fragile ecosystem will be used by non-sympathisers (the same people who talk about indiscipline) as an excuse for non-action. One can compensate ecosytem at another surrounding area if it is to be modified a bit for pilgrim's convenience. But this arguemnt aside, the Government needs to put back the money it siphons directly or indirectly from the shrine. What is wrong if it spent (Hindu) tapayer's money to support the populace -- does not it give support to other communities? How come new structures crop up at other places? Hindu should be congratulated for raising am important issue.
From Pampa to Sabarimala, first 30 minutes of the journey on foot is very risky -- it is very steep and over-crowded -- a perfect combination for an accident to happen. A standard route/routes must be maintained to reach Sabarimala and this route must be well taken care of by the administration -- all other routes must be sealed off. And the pilgrim season can be extended for a few more weeks -- and at least 2 days per week can be reserved exclusively for women so that nobody misses out on the amazing spiritual experience that Sabarimala provides.
I certainly believe that criticising the ruling party is not the correct way forward. As we know most of the pilgrims went to see the Jyoti, hence overcrowding on that auspicious day. It beggars belief that the Jyoti is happening on it's own or by lighting by some rural tribes. So Devaswam board can show the jyoti on 3 or 4 occasions in a year. In that way you can spread the people coming on just one single day. In the 21st century we have to be honest about Jyoti. If the pilgrim really want to see jyoti, there is no harm in showing Jyoti for several occasions in a year, if that can save invaluable human life being lost by overcrowding. It is the right time for devasvam board to think in the correct path and do some amendments. Any other changes can't provide the solution of overcrowding on that particular day. It's not right for Devaswam board, just to maintain the secret of Jyoti letting the innocent lives being lost and many families let mourn these happenings for the rest of their life. I look forward for the rationale thinking people to come forward with any other novel ideas.
It is with a heavy heart we read of the loss of 102 lives in the divine precinct of the Swamy Ayyappa's hill shrine. Now, soon after the manmade tragedy, there was an an inflow of leaders and experts in their marked vehicles to make their customary presence and condolences. Of course, the prima facie reason has been the act of an erring jeep driver who drove into the crowd that triggered the tragedy. It is quite imaginable what would happen when countless people occupy a modest space, giving no room for even grains of sand to trickle through, and when a vehicle rush into them. It is presumed now, inquiry committee would soon be pressed into action. Reports would be submitted after a few months by the Committe. After being examined, the voluminous reports would find their way into office shelves to gather dust there in. A few lakhs woud be spent in the process. As this comes to an end, next Sabarimala season will be arriving. And as usual, the folks would forget every thing. The real and relevant issue here is the cause of congregation of the countless in Pulumedu. It is to witness the much trumpted Makrajyothi or the divine light. The publicity the vested interests, including those in authority make about the celestial phenomenon is bound to mislead the gullible. The rationalists have made many an attempt to unravel mystery. But they failed to overwhelm the establishment. We know the fate of bigmouth G.Sudhakaran, who formerly held the portfolio of Devaswam, when he averred that the celestial light is man-lit. Now, the Government should have the moral courage to come out with the truth. The demystification will sure tend to reduce the devotees' rush during Makarajyothi, especially, from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Meanwhile the suggestions you and the Kerala High Court made brook no delay in being implemented.
I'm a devout Hindu and have visited most of the Hindu temples in our great country.
But I am pained to point out that the lack of facilities, along the route upto Pamba and trek along the hill to reach the shrine is really a worrisome factor, for almost a decade now.
Sabaraimala Devaswom board had done nothing for the comfort and safety of the vast multitude that throng the shrine each year.
No place to stay, canteen facilities are far from adequate to meet the demands of the pilgrims.
To top it all, I wonder why the trekking route along the hills, cannot be made road worthy. It really defies imagination to say that the Almighty wants his devotees to suffer physical pain before he reaches the shrine. Devotees already undergo physical endurance and discipline for more than 48 days , before they undertake this journey.
It must be only temple in India, where the chief priests are selected through an auction system. Melsanthis, as they are called, are required to deposit in lakhs before they get the chance. Their mind is always on recouping the investment than worrying for the pilgrims.
Successive Communist govts have shown little respect or real interests in the development of this shrine, possibly due to the reason that the people from outside Kerala outnumber the local pilgrims.
They should learn from Tirupathi Devasthanam board, in giving back facilities to the pilgrims, who donate in crores to the temple.
The only way is to stagger the crowd at different periods by opening the registration centres in different parts of the South.
I think the idea of "yatra slips" or "spreading the pilgrim season through the year" or "e-Registration" alone would not work because of the following reasons:
1. People go to see "Makara Jyothi" which lits up only on Jan 14th. If they miss out to see the Jyothi, then they have to wait for the whole year. So pilgrim season cannot be spread through the season.
2. If "yatra slips" comes into picture, middlemen comes into the picture and most of the "yatra slips" comes with a very high price making the whole process corrupted.
3. If "yatra slips" are regulated through the Temple, we can compare the present situation of Tirupathi where VIPs, rich make their way into the temple while poor and under influenced people stay in the lines for days and this would make the process undemocratic.
4. e-Registration cannot happen because most of the rural does not know what-abouts of this type of Registration.
Rather this type of e-Registration, a registration process with the issuance of "yatra slips" can be made through the Postal network which is user-friendly and has a very good coverage of the country. Each Post office can be given with certain number of reservations for the slips to be issued and postal officals must ensure that the issued slip details should be displayed on the notice board.
Issuance of "yatra slips" would give a clear picture of every thing. How many are coming, where are they coming from (suitable transport arrangements can be made to handle the hot spots, if the numbers are available), when would they come kind of things can be addressed effectively.
"Sabarimala Tragedy" makes people worried. My hearty condolence to those people who have lost their lives. I wish their soul to be rest in peace. The main cause for this tragedy is inadequate space in Sabarimala.First of all, the infrastructure needs to be improved. Kerala government must take necessary steps to avoid these situations in future.They should increase the present safety systems by restricting the number of people visiting per day, by guiding people in right path to sabarimala in a specified order etc. The government should not encourage heavy crowd to hill places like Sabarimala. The central government should take precautionary steps in all hillstations like Sabarimala to avoid such stampede.
I do not know the reasons behind this stampede. However, looking at how people behave when getting on to a bus or a train in India, there is a great need for people to be disciplined and a bit polite in the first place, then comes the infrastructure--most Indian roads do not qualify as roads in western standards. Unless these two things change, I am afraid stampedes and accidents won't really stop. The safest thing to do is to avoid such crowded places.
If we, the citizens who go to various places of piligrimage, forget self-discipline and control of emotions of anger and frustration, we cannot expect the police to provide security and ensure our safety in all situations. Let us also remember that paying our respects to deities can be done throughout the year and not necessarily during a particular period of a fortnight or month. We have to guard ourselves, instead of expectiong some one else to do it. This, I believe, is a lesson for all from the stampede deaths.
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