Thiruvananthapuram:  Pilgrims who have reserved spots in the Sabarimala virtual queue must cancel their booking if they decide to change their pilgrimage date, or they will be unable to rebook during the pilgrimage period, according to new guidelines. In the future, all virtual queue bookings will be based solely on Aadhaar identification.

Under the revised system, 70,000 pilgrims will be permitted entry to Sannidhanam via online reservations, while 10,000 can secure access by recording Aadhaar information at three specified entry points for spot booking.

For those who miss their scheduled darshan, their spots will be reassigned to walk-in pilgrims at entry points. Bookings can be canceled either through the link received on WhatsApp or the online booking system. Devaswom Board President P.S. Prashanth confirmed that accommodations will be made for pilgrims exceeding the designated capacity, ensuring darshan access for all.

While Aadhaar will be prioritized, alternative identification, such as passports or voter ID cards, will be accepted for booking. Indian citizens with foreign passports can use their passports for entry.

Streamlined entry process and security measures

Pilgrims using spot booking at entry points, including Pamba, Erumeli, and Vandiperiyar-Sathram, will need to complete their visit within 12 hours. Booking and entry verification will take around two minutes, during which a QR code scan will authenticate the pilgrim’s information and photo, though their photo will not appear on the ticket. Aadhaar is mandatory for this booking process.

As of Tuesday, 40% of available spots have been booked in the virtual queue. No slots remain for November 16, 18, 21, and 22, the opening days of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.