SABARIMALA: Heavy flow of pilgrims was witnessed for darshan of Lord Ayyappa here on Tuesday in spite of the restrictions imposed as part of tightening the security measures.
Thousands of pilgrims in jampacked queues were seen for offering worship at the fly-over at Sopanam Valiyanadapandal, trekking path between Saramkuthi and Marakoottam when the hill shrine was opened at 3 am for the day’s poojas.
In spite of the restrictions at Pampa and other important points to Sannidhanam, unprecedented rush of pilgrims was witnessed. The pilgrims were stranded in queue for six to seven hours to reach Sopanam for darshan.
The stranded pilgrims in queues were distributed medicated water by the volunteers of the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham at Valiyanadapandal. However, thousands of pilgrims in queue between Marakoottam and Saramkuthi were forced to go without potable water though the TDB authorities assured of deploying volunteers to distribute potable water in bottles during the crowded season days.
Long queue for neyyabhishekam
Long queue of pilgrims was seen even at 11 am for neyyabhishekam offering. On account of the heavy rush of pilgrims, neyyabhishekam was extended up to 11.30 am instead of 11 am on normal days.
Prasadam counters
Long queue was witnessed at the counters at Lower Thirumuttam for buying prasadam, though around 12 counters were functioning. At Malikappuram too, all the six counters for the sale of coupons and prasadam due witnessed heavy rush since early morning.