Taking children to Sabarimala trek? Police urge this must-wear safety device for every kid

In a thoughtful move to keep young pilgrims safe, police have rolled out a new safety armband for children visiting Sabarimala this mandala-makaravilakku season.

Officials said on Sunday that the initiative aims to prevent children from getting lost in the massive crowds that gather at the hill shrine every day.

According to police, every child below the age of ten is given an armband at Pamba. The band includes the child’s name and the mobile number of the guardian travelling with them, making it easy for authorities or fellow pilgrims to help if the child gets separated.


The armband also features a QR code that stores the child’s details, allowing police to quickly trace the parents using digital information.

Officers explained that the system not only speeds up reunions but also gives parents peace of mind during the long and often crowded journey to the shrine.

They have urged parents to make sure the band stays on throughout the pilgrimage and is removed only after the child safely returns to the vehicle.

The mandala-makaravilakku season, which began on 16 November, will continue until January next year. As many as 70,000 pilgrims, many of them children, visit Sabarimala each day, making crowd safety a top priority.

Sabarimala is a famous hill shrine located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Nestled deep inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, it sits about 4,000 feet above sea level and requires pilgrims to undertake a long trek from Pamba.

Devotees from across India visit the temple to worship Lord Ayyappa, especially during the mandala-makaravilakku season.

Inputs from PTI