Sabarimala Pilgrimage: Transit Camps Ready, High Court Bans Chemical Sindoor and Plastic Sachets

Kochi: As the Sabarimala Makaravilakku–Mandala pilgrimage is set to begin next week, the Travancore Devaswom Board, Railways, and Tourism Promotion Council informed the Kerala High Court’s Devaswom Bench that all transit camps are ready. Authorities assured that cleanliness will be maintained and adequate arrangements for drinking water and accommodation will be provided. A special queue will be arranged at Guruvayur Temple for Sabarimala pilgrims seeking darshan. Police counters will operate at Ernakulam North and South railway stations as well as at the KSRTC bus stand. The police also confirmed that prepaid taxi services will be made available.

The Devaswom Bench, comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K. V. Jayakumar, reviewed the progress of additional transit camps being set up by the government through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The bench evaluated the construction progress and related preparations.

In a suo motu case based on a report submitted by the Special Commissioner regarding facilities at transit camps during the Mandala season, the High Court has banned the sale of chemical sindoor (chemical vermilion) and small plastic sachets, including shampoo packets, in Sabarimala, Erumeli, and nearby areas. The court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board and concerned authorities to ensure strict compliance with this order.

Plastic is already banned at Sabarimala and Pamba, but the sale of chemical sindoor and shampoo sachets in Erumeli was brought to the court’s attention by the village panchayat’s counsel, citing environmental concerns. Pilgrims arriving for the traditional Petta Thullal ritual often scatter chemical sindoor and later use small packets of shampoo and detergent to wash it off. To maintain hygienic conditions, the High Court instructed the Erumeli Panchayat and Chengannur Municipality to take necessary action through health inspectors.