ORDER

Raja Vijayaraghavan V, J.

This report has been filed by the Special Commissioner concerning the crowd management issues witnessed during the Mandala–Makaravilakku Season 2025–2026.

2. From the report of the Special Commissioner, it is noted t hat the Mandala–Makaravilakku Festival Season 2025–2026 commenced on 17.11.2025. The Sannidhanam has witnessed an unprecedented influx of devotees from the very day the temple was opened. It is reported that, despite earnest and sustained efforts to regulate the crowd, the tail end of the queue has, during the last two days, extended beyond Marakkoottam. The number of pilgrims admitted through the Virtual-Q booking system, together with those permitted through spot booking, has exceeded one lakh. With respect to spot booking, although the prescribed limit is 20,000 pilgrims per day, the Special Commissioner reports that, considering the unexpectedly large turnout of devotees at Sannidhanam, the number admitted has crossed 30,000. The Special Commissioner has further reported that it has now become practically impossible to accommodate the heavy rush of pilgrims at both Sannidhanam and Pamba. In order to regulate the crowd and restrict spot