Sabarimala: Looking to reach out to devotees globally, mainly for those who are unable to make it to the hilly shrine due to health and other inconveniences, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has announced plans to launch an online radio services from the up coming ‘Mandalam’ season. The 24-hour radio station named ‘Radio Harivarasanam’ aims to provide connection for devotees who cannot physically visit the temple, as it can be listened from any part of the globe.
It will feature live coverage of temple ceremonies, rituals as it unfolds from the early hours, devotional songs and special programmes on the history of Sabarimala. The radio will also broadcast interviews and talks related to the temple tradition.
“We have been planning on these lines for some time now. Every year there are a lot of devotees who are unable to make it to the hill shrine due to health issues, especially elderly. Not just that this service will also be a large number of women who are unable to take darshan due to the age restriction issue. We are planning to give the output for all the day to day poojas and ceremonies starting from morning till night when the ‘Nada’ closes while singing the Harivarasanam song at 10:45 pm”, said a senior official in the Travancore Devaswom board.
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The radio will be managed entirely by the Devaswom Board, and broadcasting will be from Sannidhanam where the sanctum sanctorum is situated atop the Holy hills of Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district. The Board has issued a notice inviting tenders for running the radio station, welcoming applications from those with at least 15 years of experience in the radio industry. However, more details of the radio station is yet to be revealed by the Devaswom board.
As of October 20, 52,634 people have registered through the virtual queue system and the spot booking continues as usual.
Heavy rush witnessed in Sabarimala
Heavy rush was witnessed in the hilly shrine as thousands managed to trek through the hilly terrain from Pamba and reach the temple since Thursday as the temple opened for the monthly pooja ahead of the Mandala month that starts on November 18.
Anticipating a huge rush when the Mandalam season begins in November, a large number of devotees reached the hilly shrine for darshan. There were complaints of unavailability of drinking water for the past two days. Meanwhile, Devaswom authorities promised that all the issues raised by the devotees will be addressed as soon as the Mandalam season begins in November and hence ensure a hassle-free pilgrimage.
