THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is reconsidering the action of avoiding spot booking for Sabarimala darshan following protests of devotees. Reports say that spot booking may be allowed subject to restrictions. A final decision in this regard will be taken in today’s devaswom board meeting. Devaswom board president P S Prashant, members advocate A Aji Kumar and G Sundaresan will be meeting the media this evening. A new decision will be clarified then.In the Sabarimala review meeting presided over by the chief minister, it was decided that only online booking is enough for darshan during mandala-makaravilakku season this year. There were strong protests against this. Some organizations had decided to approach the court against the action of the government.

The authorities had said that the spot booking was evaded to avoid protests and conflict during rush hours. However, when there is no spot booking and when devotees are stopped, the protest is likely to intensify. Thousands of pilgrims, including those from other states, come directly to Pampa without booking.In previous years there were spot bookings at Pandalam, Chengannur, Nilakkal and Pampa. During the last part of the pilgrimage, spot bookings were made only at Nilakkal and Pampa. More than 5000 devotees reached this way every day last time, during the busy days, according to an unofficial estimate.

The groups that walk through the forest from Erumeli via the traditional route also do not book online because they cannot adhere to the fixed timings. Last time, more than 20,000 people who came like this climbed the hills through spot booking in Pampa.