Thiruvananthapuram: The current decision is that only virtual queue booking will be allowed this season at Sabarimala, and appropriate measures will be taken after discussions with the government, said P.S. Prashanth, the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board. The virtual queue system has been implemented for the safety of devotees, ensuring that no devotee will have to leave without having the darshan, he stated at a press conference. The complete elimination of spot booking and the reservation of darshan for only 80,000 devotees per day through online booking sparked controversy. The darshan timings at Sabarimala will be from 3 AM to 1 PM and from 3 PM to 11 PM. The board prioritizes the safety of the devotees. The virtual queue provides an authentic record of the people arriving at Sabarimala, allowing for better planning of the number of devotees expected. If more people arrive, the Devaswom Board will also benefit financially. However, the safety of devotees is paramount. If spot booking were allowed, no one would book through the virtual queue. The decision is not set in stone. The current decision stands as a virtual queue only, and the Devaswom Board will make appropriate decisions after consulting with the government, the president stated.
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