Pathanamthitta (Keralam) [India], October 6 (ANI): The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has expanded online accommodation booking facilities at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, with 400 rooms to be made available for online reservation for the Thulam month pujas.
Online booking for the Thulam month pujas will begin on October 7 at 7 am.
Of the 400 rooms available for online booking daily, 10 rooms at the Sabari Guest House will also be included. The guest house is currently being used as a Protocol Guest House.
Previously, 190 rooms were available through online reservation, while the remaining rooms were allotted directly through the Accommodation Office at Sannidhanam.
The decision to expand online services across all sectors has led to an increase in the number of rooms available for online booking, according to the TDB.
Devotees can book rooms through the TDB website.
In case a booking cannot be completed due to heavy website traffic despite the amount being debited from the account, grievances along with supporting documents can be sent to the email address provided by the TDB.
The TDB said the move is aimed at transitioning room booking facilities for devotees at Sabarimala Sannidhanam fully online.
The move comes amid a shortage of ‘Aravana prasadam’ at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, which has led to protests among Ayyappa pilgrims, and has questioned the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) decision to undertake renovation work at the plant while the hill shrine was open to devotees.
The Keralam government in September allocated Rs 551.5011 crore to the Public Works Department (PWD) for various works related to preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage, the Chief Minister’s Office said.
The allocation was approved by Chief Minister VD Satheesan following a review meeting on preparations for the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The proposal for the allocation was submitted by the Public Works Minister and was promptly approved by the Chief Minister.
The funds will be utilised for various works being undertaken by the PWD as part of preparations for the pilgrimage season. (ANI)
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