Sabarimala: Kerala HC orders to seize pilgrims' gas cylinders, vessels
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Kochi: The Kerala High Court has ordered that Sabarimala pilgrims should be prevented from going to the Sannidhanam with cooking gas cylinders. The police should seize the cylinders and utensils they carry with them to cook food. The court observed that since food is provided 24 hours a day at the Annadanam Complex in Malikappuram, pilgrims do not need to cook.
Food is also being provided at Pandithavalam on the 13th and 14th of this month on the occasion of Makaravilakku.
The order of the Devaswom bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice S Muralikrishna clarified that cooking in and around the Sannidhanam is a security threat. The court was hearing petitions regarding security arrangements at the pilgrimage site.
When the court directed that the flow of pilgrims through the traditional route of Erumeli and Mukkuzhi be restricted, the Devaswom Board lawyer informed us that pilgrimage through this route is part of the ritual and a complete ban is not practical. A report was sought from the Devaswom Board Secretary in this regard.
The Sabarimala Special Commissioner gave a report on the arrangements for Makaravilakku, stating that vehicle parking will not be allowed in Pampa from 8 am on the 12th to 2 pm on the 15th and pilgrimage via Mukkuzhi will not be allowed from 11 am to 14 pm.
A total of eight persons, all Ayyappa devotees, preparing for the Sabarimala pilgrimage, succumbed to severe burn injuries in a cylinder blast incident that occurred in Achchavva Colony in Hubballi. Another person got severe burns.