The decision of the Travancore Devaswom Board and the high power committee for implementing the Sabarimala Master Plan to shift the copra drying yard near the Valiya Nadappanthal to an open area near the Subramaniyam Trust building is expected to ease congestion at the Sannidhanam during the Mandalam- Makaravilakku festival.
The TDB and the HPC had maintained that shifting of the copra drying yard from near the Valiya Nadappanthal and the Sabari guesthouse would provide more open space for pilgrims to take rest.
Moreover, the pilgrims would be able to have a better ‘darshan' of the Makarajyoti on the Makaravilakku day from this area, official sources said.
The Sabarimala Master Plan prepared by the Delhi-based Ecosmart India had recommended providing maximum possible open space at the hillock for the pilgrims to take rest in view of the increasing number of pilgrims to the temple every year.
Moreover, the existing copra drying yard had been posing inconvenience to the pilgrims, especially during rush days of the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.
