SABARIMALA: Thousands of pilgrims was witnessed for darshan of Lord Ayyappa here despite incessant rain on Friday. Scores of pilgrims reached the Sannidhanam irrespective of severe hardships on the trekking path.A long queue was witnessed on the flyover at sopanam, holy steps, lower thirumuttam and valiyanadapandal when the sreekovil was opened at 3.30 am.
The heavy flow continued until the temple was closed at 1.30 pm after uchcha pooja. In the afternoon too, a long queue was seen for darshan. Restriction on flow of pilgrims relaxed The restrictions imposed by the Forest Department on the flow of pilgrims at the Sathram traditional path were relaxed on Friday. The Forest authorities had imposed curbs on pilgrims on Thursday, following heavy rain and wind on the Sathram-Pulmedu-Sannidhanam route. Hundreds of pilgrims who camped at Sathram were forced to wait until 10 am for the relaxation by the Forest authorities to trek the traditional forest route to reach the Sannidhanam.