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The Hindu
20-07-2025
- The Hindu
Devotees slip along trek path in Sabarimala; TDB to kickstart flaming of stones on war footing
With a growing number of devotees sustaining injuries from slips along the Neelimala stretch, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has once again closed the Neelimala route on the Pampa–Sannidhanam trekking path in Sabarimala. Thirteen devotees sustained injuries on Saturday alone while descending the hillock amid heavy rains after offering darshan at the hill shrine in the evening. All the injured were given first aid at the Pampa General Hospital and later shifted to the Pathanamthitta General Hospital for further treatment. Following his, a police team from Pampa rushed to the spot and stopped trekking via the Neelimala route. Confirming the development, TDB president P.S. Prashanth said steps are in place to commence works to improve grip on the granite stones laid along the trekking path from Pampa to Marakkoottam. The devotees, meanwhile, are now being permitted to move through the Swami Ayyappan Road for the time being. 'The process involves applying high-temperature flames to the surface of the stone steps, which causes minerals in the rock to expand and fracture. This creates a rough, non-slip texture ideal for wet conditions,' he explained. Given a favourable weather, the work is slated to complete wihin a couple of months. Mahesh Panikkar, a sculptor who led construction of the new Navagraha temple in Sabarimala, will oversee the process. Recent incident Earlier on June 16, the route was similarly closed after around 30 devotees were injured while coming for the monthly pujas associated with the Malayalam month of Mithunam. Following that incident, the Travancore Devaswom Board had announced that the route would only be reopened after granite stones laid along the path were made more slip-resistant. Despite this assurance, the route was reopened without implementing the promised safety work. The traditional trekking path, a vital segment of the forest pilgrimage trail, was paved with stones at a cost of ₹12 crore under the Swadesh Darshan scheme two years ago. Continuous footfall from lakhs of pilgrims has polished the stones over time, making them dangerously smooth, particularly during monsoons, when moss, rotting leaves and mud add to the risk.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Laksharchana ritual held at Sabarimala temple
SABARIMALA: Laksharchana was the important ritual performed at Sabarimala temple here on the first day of the Malayalam month of Mithunam on Sunday. The ritual began with thantri Kandararu Brahmadathan performing brahmakalasa pooja at the mandapam of the temple at 6 am in the presence of melsanthi Arunkumar Nampoothiri. On conclusion of the pooja, the thantri led the dozen vedic scholars in chanting mantras. The ritual concluded following the performance of kalasabhishekam on the idol. Kalabhabhishekam was the other special ritual held at the temple on the first day of the monthly pooja. In connection with the ritual, the thantri conducted brahmakalasa pooja after usha pooja at 9 am. It concluded with kalabhabhishekam on the idol during uchcha pooja after the procession carrying the brahmakalasam led by the thantri circumambulated the sreekovil of the temple. Udayasthamana pooja, ashtabhishekam, pushpabhishekam and padi pooja were the other rituals held at the temple. The temple will be closed on June 19 after athazha pooja and harivarasanam at 10pm.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Thousands brave heavy rain, flock to Sabarimala temple for darshan
P'THITTA: Thousands of devotees flocked to Sabarimala to offer their prayers at the hill shrine on the first day of the Malayalam month Mithunam, undeterred by heavy monsoon rains. The rainfall began as the temple opened at 5 am on Sunday, yet many devotees bravely navigated the weather to seek blessings. Initially, darshan was facilitated directly from the temple's flagpole to the sreekovil. However, as the crowd grew, access was redirected via a flyover to accommodate the influx of devotees. The route from Pampa to Sannidhanam also faced heavy rainfall, leading authorities to issue precautionary guidelines before allowing devotees to proceed. In response to the rising water levels in the Pampa River, District Collector S Prem Krishnan has temporarily banned bathing at Pampa Triveni and entering the river until the rain warning is lifted. A statement from the Pamba executive magistrate reported the adverse weather conditions to district officials, noting that the Orange alert issued for Sunday and Monday, coupled with ongoing heavy rains, has significantly increased the water flow in the river. To ensure the safety of the devotees, vehicle parking in Thriveni has also been temporarily restricted. The Travancore Devaswom Board and police have implemented a range of safety measures, including enhanced monitoring and guidance along rain-affected routes. Authorities are advising devotees to exercise caution while traversing the Pampa-Sannidhanam route, as slippery conditions have been caused by the heavy rainfall.
