Wednesday, November 16 2005 15:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sabarimala: Thousands of devotees have begun to flock to the Sabari hills as the two-month-long pilgrimage season of the famed Ayyappa temple got underway with the beginning of the auspicious month of 'Vrischikam' of the Malayalam calendar today (Nov 16, 2005).

Proper crowd management, security of pilgrims and protection of the fragile environs of the hill shrine, located in the heart of the Periyar Tiger Reserves on the Western Ghat slopes, are the prime concerns of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the state agencies, as the temple has emerged as one of country's biggest pilgrimage spots with the flow of visitors increasing year-by-year.

About three crore Ayyappas-- as the pilgrims to Sabarimala are called-- were estimated to have visited the shrine during the Mandala pooja and Makaravilakku seasons last year, drawn mainly from the Southern states.

After years of wait, the Centre this year gave clearance for using some stretches of forest land for creation of facilities at Nialakkal, about 15 km from the base camp Pampa.

According to TDB officials, the transit camp and enhanced parking facilities at Nilakkal would relieve the river Pampa of much of the pollution it used to suffer in the previous years due to mass camping of pilgrims on its banks, before their trek to the shrine atop the hill.

Considering the harm suffered by Pampa river due to the influx of people, plastic and ploythene have been banned on its banks and on the way up to Sannidhanam, where the shrine is located.

The TDB authorities have appealed to the pilgrims not to dump waste and throw their clothes into the river after the pilgrimage, as this would clog the river, a major lifeline of the Travancore region.

Large contingents of police personnel, drafted from all over the state, have been deployed in Pampa and Sabarimala to keep a round-the-clock vigil over the area, manage the crowd and regulate traffic.

No person would be allowed to enter the temple through the '18 holy steps' without the 'irumudi', the bundle containing the articles for offering carried on their heads by pilgrims.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has started special Sabarimala services from all major towns in the state. Also, a round-the-clock chain service has been started to shuttle pilgrims between Nilakal and Pampa.

The rituals of the season began with new 'Melsanthi'- chief priest--being installed when the shrine re-opened yesterday.