On the again of a gradual influx of pilgrims to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, the 2 forest routes to the hill temple from Erumely and Vandiperiyar Sathram have been witnessing an unprecedented rush of devotees early on the annual pilgrimage season.
As per official estimates, simply over 15,000 devotees handed by the trekking route from Erumely until Tuesday afternoon– the best preliminary figures to be reported for any season. The variety of pilgrims who trekked by the Sathram-Pullumdu route throughout the identical interval stood at 6,928.
According to officers, these routes normally change into energetic after the ‘panthrand vilakk’ (twelth day ritual) at Sabarimala. Pilgrims, nonetheless, have begun utilizing these routes as quickly because the Forest Department introduced its opening.
“The number of people opting for the Erumely-Karimala route has recorded a marked rise with each passing day and it will hit the peak during the Makaravilakku season in January. Going by the initial trends, this route is set to surpass its previous record of 3.75 lakh passengers, as reported during the 2017-18 season’’, said B.R. Jayan, Range Forest Officer, Erumely.
Trekking through the Erumely path, which progresses via Peroorthodu, Koyikkakavu, Kalaketty and Azhutha Kadavu, is normally done over two days. The Forest Department has made elaborate arrangements in association with members of the Vana Samrakshana Samithi (VSS) for the camping of pilgrims during nights.
The opening portion of the route from Koyikkakavu temple to Kalaketty falls with the Kottayam Forest division while the remaining portion is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (West). Presently, trekking has been restricted with different timings at forest check posts along the route taking into account the safety of the pilgrims.
The authorities, however, are planning to revise the timings in line with a further increase in the number of pilgrims. “The existing set of regulations will exhaust when the inflow touches 2,500 pilgrims per day. At that point of time, we will have to revise the timings as well as the security arrangements accordingly,” mentioned an official.
To guarantee the protection of the pilgrims alongside the Karimala route, which reported cases of wildlife encounters within the earlier years, , the Forest Department has deployed as many as 40 forest officers and 80 short-term workers together with forest watchers, moreover elephant squads. Two fast response groups (RRTs) from Peermade and Ranni too have been deployed to confront any emergency scenario.
Source: www.thehindu.com