Sabarimala Temple to Close Tomorrow; Thiruvabharanam Return Procession to Begin
The Sabarimala temple will close tomorrow, January 20, marking the conclusion of the Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The temple will be closed at 6:30 a.m. after the darshan of the Pandalam Palace royal representative, Punarthamnal Narayanan Varma.
The temple will open at 5:00 a.m., followed by Ganapathi Homam at the eastern mandapam. After the ritual, the Thiruvabharanam return procession will commence towards Pandalam Srambikkal Palace. A 30-member team led by Periyaswamy Maruthuvana Sivankutty will carry the sacred ornaments back along the same route. The procession is scheduled to reach Pandalam on the evening of January 23.
Before closing the temple, the Melsanthi will perform Vibhuthi Abhishekam on the idol, chant Harivarasanam, extinguish the lamps, and close the sanctum sanctorum. The key bunch will be handed over to the royal representative, who will later pass it on to the Sabarimala Administrative Officer in the presence of Devaswom officials. With the handing over of accounts and ceremonial offerings, the pilgrimage season will formally conclude.
₹3.64 Lakh Collected as Fine During Inspections
During inspections conducted from January 1 onwards under the leadership of the Duty Magistrate, authorities collected ₹3.64 lakh in fines from hotels and commercial establishments at Sannidhanam.
Violations included overcharging, short-weight sales, selling above maximum retail price, adulterated juice, storing excess gas cylinders, sale of spoiled food, absence of health cards among staff, use of expired food items, and failure to re-verify and seal weighing instruments.
The inspections were led by Duty Magistrate K.R. Manoj and Executive Magistrate Ratnesh, with three squads operating round the clock. Officials from Health, Revenue, Legal Metrology, Supplyco, and Local Self-Government departments were part of the inspection teams.
Homeopathy Hospital Provides Preventive Care to Pilgrims
The Homeopathy Hospital at Sabarimala provided preventive medicines to 4,412 pilgrims to protect against chickenpox, conjunctivitis, and viral fever. Since November 16, 2025, 2,540 pilgrims have received treatment.
Medicines worth over ₹1 lakh were distributed free of cost. Most pilgrims sought treatment for respiratory issues, digestive problems due to dietary changes, and muscle cramps.
Modern Medical Centre Treats Over 96,000 Pilgrims
From November 17, 2025, to January 19, 2026, the Advanced Medical Centre at Sannidhanam treated 96,826 pilgrims, distributing medicines worth ₹23.19 lakh free of charge.
The 24-hour hospital handled 50 cardiac emergency cases, all of which were stabilized and referred to nearby medical colleges and district hospitals. Facilities included troponin testing, anti-venom for snake bites, rabies vaccines, and emergency cardiac drugs like streptokinase.
Specialists including physicians, surgeons, orthopaedists, anaesthetists, paediatricians, cardiologists, and pulmonologists were available round the clock.
Over 63,000 Pilgrims Treated at Ayurveda Hospital
The Sannidhanam Ayurveda Hospital treated 63,785 pilgrims during the pilgrimage season. Common ailments included muscle pain, body ache, cough, cold, nasal congestion, and swelling.
A total of 10,807 pilgrims received various therapies such as oil massage, herbal paste application, steam therapy, and nasal treatment. Medical services were provided in nine phases, each involving seven doctors and supporting staff.Dr. Anil Kumar from Kozhikode has been serving as the Charge Medical Officer since January 12.
