Keralam govt. opens doors to ABASS, Pandalam Palace ahead of Sabarimala season

As preparations gather pace for the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage, the United Democratic Front (UDF) government has reached out to organisations that have long been excluded from formal consultations on pilgrim welfare.

The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham (ABASS) and the Pandalam Palace have been invited to the Sabarimala review meeting to be convened by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan at Pampa on Saturday, sources said. They, along with other organisations representing devotees, had been kept out of such consultations in recent years.

Confirming receipt of the invitation, ABASS general secretary D. Vijayakumar described it as a significant shift in the government’s approach. “At least five voluntary organisations, including ABASS, which played a key role in assisting pilgrims to Sabarimala, have been kept out of consultations since 2023,” he alleged.

In 2023, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) approached the Kerala High Court seeking permission to take over buildings occupied by ABASS at Sannidhanam and Pampa to provide facilities for pilgrims during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season. The move led to a legal dispute between the two sides.

Official sources said the invitations signalled a willingness to incorporate suggestions from devotees and their representatives into pilgrimage arrangements.

Meanwhile, preparations are being expedited at Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit to Pampa on Saturday.

The temple will open at 5 pm on October 17 for the Thulam month pujas. The draw of lots to select the Sabarimala melsanthi will be held at the Sopanam at 7.30 a.m. on October 18, followed by the selection of the Malikappuram melsanthi. Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan and Devaswom Commissioner B. Sunil Kumar will oversee the process. The temple will close at 10 p.m. on October 22.

At Sannidhanam, renovation of the Devaswom employees’ mess has begun at a cost of ₹1.80 crore, along with the installation of a new boiler. The auction of shops has been completed, and repairs to buildings and other infrastructure are being expedited.

At Pampa, work has begun on a temporary German-style shelter on the riverbed to accommodate more than 6,000 pilgrims. The board has also started clearing metal rods and concrete debris from the river and its bathing ghats after a pilgrim was injured while bathing during the Kanni month poojas.

At Nilakkal, a shelter for 6,000 pilgrims and parking facilities for more than 10,000 vehicles are being arranged. More drinking-water kiosks will be installed, with water to be supplied through a pipeline from Seethathode.