Kerala: Sabarimala devotees must carry Aadhaar, says new directive

All devotees visiting Sabarimala during the Mandala season have been urged to carry their Aadhaar cards without fail.

This will be necessary to get registered as a pilgrim, temple president PS Prashanthan has said.

People of Indian origin with foreign passports can use the passports to secure entry.

Real-time online booking

Facilities for real-time online spot booking will be available at three places at the hill shrine, media reports quoted him as saying at Pathanamthitta.

The three places are Vandiperiyar-Pulmedu, Erumeli-Sathram, and Pampa. The spot bookings will be ‘real-time online bookings’, Prashanthan said.

In the last pilgrimage season, there were three counters at Pampa. This will be increased to six.

Also read: Sabarimala pilgrims to get free insurance worth Rs five lakh

70,000 pilgrims at Sannidhanam

“This time, as many as 70,000 pilgrims will be allowed to enter Sannidhanam through bookings while 10,000 can enter the shrine by registering at the spot booking counters using Aadhaar details,” Prashanthan said.

Earlier, a leader of a pilgrims’ group could register for others under his Aadhaar. This time, individual Aadhaar identification is mandatory.

Devotees wishing to change the date of visit have been urged to cancel their booking to give others an opportunity.

Also read: Sabarimala pilgrims permitted to carry coconuts in flight cabin baggage

Insurance for accidental death

According to the new guidelines, those who do not cancel their pilgrimage date if there is a change in their schedule will be unable to rebook during the pilgrimage season.

The Devaswom Board has promised that each pilgrim who books for the pilgrimage will be eligible for an insurance claim of Rs 5 lakh in the event of accidental death.

Also, 100 additional staff are being appointed to count the sheer volume of coins received as offerings.