The 2025-26 Mandala season at Kerala’s revered Sabarimala temple has erupted into crisis with 300,000 devotees flooding the hill shrine in just four days—far exceeding the planned 70,000 daily limit. The Kerala High Court intervened on November 20 ordering immediate restrictions on spot bookings to prevent disaster.
Table of Contents
Crisis Unfolds at Sabarimala Temple
The situation at Sabarimala has reached critical levels during the opening days of the 2025-26 Mandala season. Temple officials reported an unprecedented surge of 300,000 pilgrims within just 96 hours of the season’s commencement, creating severe logistical and safety challenges across the pilgrimage route.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had implemented a virtual queue system with a cap of 70,000 daily darshan bookings. However, the system failed to account for spot bookings, which allowed thousands more pilgrims to bypass the digital restrictions and arrive at the temple unannounced.
Water Shortage Emergency
The massive influx has created a severe water crisis along the entire pilgrimage route. Drinking water supplies at Pamba, Nilakkal, and along the trekking path have been depleted faster than anticipated. Temple authorities are scrambling to arrange emergency water tanker supplies, but the narrow mountain roads make rapid deployment challenging.
Pilgrims reported waiting hours for water at designated stations, with some collapsing from dehydration in the tropical heat. Medical teams stationed along the route have treated dozens of devotees for heat exhaustion and dehydration-related complications.
Kerala High Court Takes Emergency Action
Responding to the deteriorating situation, the Kerala High Court issued urgent directives on November 20, 2025. The court ordered the immediate suspension of all spot booking facilities and directed authorities to enforce strict adherence to the virtual queue system.
Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, hearing a public interest litigation, expressed serious concern about the potential for stampede situations and public health emergencies. The court mandated that only pre-booked pilgrims be allowed access to the temple complex, with police deployed at all entry points to enforce the directive.
Key Legal Directives Issued
- Complete ban on spot bookings at all pilgrimage entry points
- Mandatory enforcement of the 70,000 daily visitor cap
- Deployment of additional police personnel for crowd management
- Emergency water supply arrangements within 48 hours
- Daily situation reports to be submitted to the court
Infrastructure and Logistical Challenges
The Sabarimala pilgrimage infrastructure, designed for gradual pilgrim flow, has been overwhelmed by the sudden surge. The narrow pathways leading to the shrine can safely accommodate only limited numbers at any given time, but the excessive crowds have created dangerous bottlenecks.
Sanitation facilities along the route have also reached breaking point. The temporary toilets installed at various points were designed for the planned 70,000 daily visitors, not the actual numbers arriving. This has created unhygienic conditions and raised serious public health concerns.
Accommodation Shortage
Hotels and guest houses in Pamba and surrounding areas report 200% occupancy, with pilgrims sleeping on streets and in vehicles. The Kerala government has opened temporary shelters in nearby schools and community halls, but these makeshift arrangements can accommodate only a fraction of the overflow crowd.
Virtual Queue System Under Scrutiny
The virtual queue booking system, launched with much fanfare before this Mandala season, has come under intense criticism. While the system successfully limits pre-bookings to 70,000 per day, the loophole allowing unlimited spot bookings has undermined its entire purpose.
Technology experts point out that the system lacks integration with physical entry points. Despite having a sophisticated online booking platform, there’s no mechanism to prevent non-booked pilgrims from accessing the pilgrimage route through alternative entry points.
Proposed System Improvements
Following the court’s intervention, the TDB announced several technical improvements to the virtual queue system. These include mandatory QR code scanning at all entry points, real-time capacity monitoring, and automated alerts when daily limits are approached. The enhanced system is expected to be operational within the next week.
Government and Temple Board Response
Kerala’s Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan held emergency meetings with temple officials and district administrators. The government has allocated additional funds for immediate infrastructure improvements and deployed extra police forces from neighboring districts.
The Travancore Devaswom Board issued a public appeal asking pilgrims without confirmed bookings to postpone their visits. The board assured devotees that the two-month Mandala season provides ample opportunity for darshan once the crowd management systems are fully operational.
Emergency Measures Implemented
Pilgrim Safety Concerns
Safety experts have raised alarms about the stampede risk in the current situation. The steep terrain and narrow pathways of the Sabarimala route become extremely dangerous when overcrowded. Previous incidents at other pilgrimage sites in India serve as grim reminders of the potential consequences of inadequate crowd management.
Medical facilities along the route have reported treating over 150 cases of injuries, exhaustion, and health emergencies in just the first four days. Ambulance services are struggling to reach patients due to the heavy congestion on access roads.
Historical Context of Sabarimala Pilgrimage
Sabarimala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, ranks among India’s most visited pilgrimage sites. The Mandala season, spanning approximately 41 days from mid-November to late December, traditionally attracts millions of devotees from across India and abroad.
This year’s crisis is not entirely unprecedented. In 2018, similar crowd management issues arose, though not to this extreme. However, lessons from that experience apparently were not fully implemented in the current season’s planning.
The Way Forward
Experts suggest that sustainable solutions require both technological improvements and behavioral change among pilgrims. The virtual queue system must be strengthened with foolproof entry controls, while pilgrims need to be educated about the importance of advance booking and respecting capacity limits.
Long-term infrastructure development is also essential. Widening pathways, installing permanent water supply systems, and building adequate sanitation facilities should be prioritized before the next pilgrimage season.
Summary
The Sabarimala pilgrimage crisis of 2025 represents a critical challenge in managing mass religious gatherings in India. With 300,000 pilgrims overwhelming the temple in just four days—far exceeding the 70,000 daily limit—the Kerala High Court has intervened with emergency restrictions. The crisis highlights the severe water shortages, infrastructure inadequacies, and the failure of the virtual queue system to prevent spot bookings. The court’s directive to ban spot bookings and enforce strict capacity limits, combined with emergency measures by the Kerala government and Temple Board, aims to restore order. This situation underscores the urgent need for improved crowd management technology, better infrastructure, and pilgrim education to prevent similar crises during future pilgrimage seasons. The incident serves as an important reminder that sacred traditions must be balanced with practical safety considerations to protect devotees and preserve the sanctity of worship.
