Everything you need to know about the protests and nearly 14-hour line at Sabarimala

Lord Ayyappa’s shrine in Kerala, the Sabarimala Temple, has seen a surge in visitors this month. Many pilgrims have returned before finishing their journey due to complaints about inadequate safety precautions and basic amenities.

In light of the intense traffic at the temple, pilgrims from various cities in Kerala as well as states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh reportedly criticized the police and the Travancore Devaswom Board for their inadequate management of the devotees, complaining that they had to wait in line for up to 12 or 14 hours.

Pilgrims from Sabarimala, who were not happy with the situation, blocked the Erumeli road on Tuesday and demanded that their cars be permitted to drive all the way to Pamba, according to PTI.