Sabarimala Pilgrimage - The offseason Darshan - Posted by Somaraj

Sabarimala the biggest pilgrim center, where the bachelor god Sree Ayyappa settled. The holy hill is now suffering from concrete buildings, plastics and human wastes. Because of annual pilgrim, lots of devotees are flowing during December and January months to Holy Sabarimala.  Last year more than 50 million devotees visited Sabarimala and with an increment of 19% yearly.

The sacred Sabarimala temple surrounded by 18 hills, which is having Tiger reserve forest, flowering plants, medicinal plants, Elephants and other animals. Now these animals are facing troubles for survival because of large number of pilgrimages, buildings and wastes.

Our Veda's teach us to love everything in the nature and becomes close to the GOD – BRAHMA. But by disturbing the balance of Nature, we are moving away from the GOD.

At present if we want to keep the Sabarimala and the holy Pampa clean, need to build a better system, which is again going to cut more forests. So the only solution now left is instead of an annual pilgrimage, let us go through out the year. By that the authorities can manage the system at minimum facilities.

Tips to keep Holy Sabarimala clean

Reduce food and avoid using toilets at Holy Sabarimala and Holy Pampa

We used to take fasting in most of the occasions. There is a small suggestion to the devotees who are visiting Sabarimala. Why can’t you take a 2 days fasting (less food) which reduces the less use of toilets at Sabarimala and Pampa. As a result, which can reduce the human waste (the biggest problem, which pollutes water in Pampa.)

Do not throw Plastics in Sabarimala, which destroys the Echo-System

Like other tourist places we are dumping lot of wastes like biscut cover, plastic cover and other plastic materials. As a devotee you should love the nature but not to disturb them. So each devotee should pledge that today onwards he would not do any disturbance to the nature. Whatever you are taking to the Sabarimala should take them back - not to dump in hill areas and River Pampa.

Follow these to save Holy Sabarimala and Holy Pampa

• Do not spend more than 12 hours in Sabarimala and Pampa.
• You might be using plastic raincoats, while climbing Sabarimala during rainy season. Please do not throw them in Sabarimala area after use.
• Keep the empty Biscuit covers, chocolate covers, plastic covers and pan covers. Please do not throw then in Sabarimala
• The Devaswom Board and other authorities not at all interested in keeping the Sabarimala clean, so each and every Devotee should take care to keep Sabarimala clean and hygienic
• Devotees should not make any disturbance to the echo system
• Visit Sabarimala in off seasons, which help the authorities to manage the process of cleaning Sabarimala and related areas.
• Do not pollute Pampa – the holy river, as this water is supplying nearby districts for drinking purpose.