The Sabarimala Sannidhanam witnessed moderate rush when new Melsanthi V.N. Vasudevan Namboodiri opened the sanctum sanctorum on Saturday morning.
The 41-day Mandalam pilgrim season began with Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu performing the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati Homom. Pilgrims carrying ghee for the Neyyabhishekom offering lined up in queues that extended up to the temple sopanam.
The restrictions on pilgrim movement posed problems for the faithful. Many slept by the wayside and on verandahs of shops after the Travancore Devaswom Board denied them accommodation facility on a directive of the police. The police cited security reasons for denying rooms and shelters to the pilgrims on the Mandalam eve.
Many pilgrims were forced to leave the Sannidhanam without performing Neyyabhishekom and other offerings as the police did not allow them to halt at the holy hillock after the closure of the temple at 10 p.m.
The police used lathis for regulating the devotees. The lower Thirumuttom remained cordoned off with the police erecting barricades, preventing the faithful even to take rest after the long and arduous trek. The police action drew criticism from the TDB staff on duty as well as the pilgrims.
The TDB is yet to start its free-meal programme (Annadanam) at Nilackal and Pampa.
With little efforts being made to check open defecation at the Pampa Manalppuram (river banks) and surrounding areas, the stench permeated the whole area.
Hartal impact
Meanwhile, the hartal called by the Sabarimala Action Council and the Hindu Aikya Vedi had little impact on the pilgrim flow to Sabarimala. Despite the hartal, all Sabarimala-bound vehicles were assured a safe passage throughout the major trunk roads leading to Nilackal.