Thiruvananthapuram: Over 1 lakh worshippers flocked to the Sabrimala temple, setting a record for bookings for darshan.

According to temple authorities, 1,07,260 pillgrims have reserved darshan times on Monday. Extensive security precautions have been set up in light of the massive foot traffic.

"Devotees would be escorted from Pampa to Sannidhanam in a controlled and segmented way. Police officers have been deployed at each point for this purpose.  The segment rotation is a precautionary step to avoid any untoward incident because of  the crowding of devotees. Devotees waiting in the queue will be provided light food and drinking water.  In addition to the police, RAF and NDRF men would be called upon to assist in traffic control "said Harishchandra Naik, a special officer for Sabarimala.

Officials further said that the darshan timing has been extended by one hour.

Nearly 77,216 pilgrims have booked online for Sabarimala darshan on December 13 and 64,617 on December 14. Nearly 60,000 people visited Sabarimala on Saturday till 5 pm. According to Kerala Devaswom Department Minister K Radhakrishnan, nearly 2.5 lakh pilgrims visited the Lord Ayappa Temple at Sabrimala in the Keralan district of Pathanamthitta in the first six days of the current pilgrimage season.

"In the first six days of current pilgrimage season, 2,61,874 pilgrims had visited Sabarimala. There are signs that the number of followers may rise in the days to come "the Minister said.

The two-month-long yearly pilgrimage season got underway on November 17 when the Sabrimala Lord Ayappa Temple's doors opened to pilgrims for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku celebrations.

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