Southern states to urge Centre to make 'Lord Aiyappa temple' at Sabarimala a national pilgrim centre

A ministerial conference presided by Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday passed a resolution to request the Centre to declare 'Lord Ayyappa Temple' at Sabarimala as a national pilgrim centre. 

The resolution was passed keeping in view to provide more facilities to the people who visit the temple during the November-January festival. 
The declaration was made official by the Kerala CM through his Facebook post. 

It should be noted that 'Lord Aiyappa Temple' attracts large number of devotees from across India and also the world over during the 'Mandala-Makaravillaku' festival season from November to January. 

Vijayan wanted all the southern states to open control rooms in their respective capitals for smooth coordination offestival arrangements.
The timing of darshan has been increased for the fulfillment of the devotees.

Various projects to improve the pilgrim amenities worth Rs 300 crore are at different stages of completion. Pilgrims from as many as 59 countries had registered for the vitual queue, said Kerala DGP Loknath Behra.

Lord Aiyappa Temple of Sabarimala has long been in the mid of controversy for following the tradition of barring the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.