Sabarimala Pilgrimage 2026: Kerala Plans AI-Powered Crowd Management System for Safer and Smoother Darshan
The annual pilgrimage to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala could soon witness the introduction of an artificial intelligence-powered crowd management system aimed at making the pilgrimage safer and more efficient.
The proposal was discussed on Saturday during a meeting between the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the shrine, senior officers of the Kerala Police and an expert committee evaluating the project.
The pilgrimage season at the hill shrine, located in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, is scheduled to begin in the second week of November.
Every year, Sabarimala attracts millions of devotees from across the country. During the previous pilgrimage season alone, the temple recorded nearly 51 lakh pilgrims.
Representatives of three technology companies based in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai presented their proposals to the expert committee, senior officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board and police officers.
The discussions centred on how artificial intelligence can be adapted to address the unique challenges of managing one of India’s largest religious gatherings.
Pathanamthitta District Police Superintendent R. Anand, who has been entrusted with preparing a report on the project, said the technology would be introduced in phases.
According to him, the primary objective is to improve crowd management, strengthen coordination among different departments and enhance the overall safety and convenience of pilgrims.
Superintendent Anand said AI-based crowd management systems have already demonstrated their effectiveness at major events, including the Maha Kumbh Mela and other large-scale religious gatherings.
However, he noted that Sabarimala presents a unique challenge because the temple is situated deep within a dense forest and requires customised solutions tailored to its geographical and logistical conditions.
He explained that the proposed system could address several long-standing challenges at the shrine.
Besides facilitating a safe and hassle-free darshan experience, the technology could help authorities quickly locate missing pilgrims and efficiently regulate the movement of devotees arriving from 26 designated parking areas.
The system is also expected to significantly reduce the burden on thousands of police personnel deployed during the pilgrimage season.
Officials said the proposed AI-enabled monitoring system would integrate advanced technologies such as AI-powered cameras, drones and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.
By continuously analysing video feeds and other data inputs, the system would be capable of predicting crowd density and issuing timely alerts to control rooms regarding crowd movement and potential congestion points.
The real-time information generated by the system would enable authorities to respond swiftly to emerging situations and resolve issues before they escalate.
Personnel stationed at different locations would receive instant notifications through digital devices, allowing quicker decision-making and better coordination on the ground.
At present, Sabarimala operates through a virtual queue system under which pilgrims are required to register online before visiting the shrine.
Devotees can select a specific date and time slot and must report to the designated base station before beginning their trek to the temple.
Despite the virtual queue arrangement, pilgrims often have to wait for several hours at various transit camps as part of crowd control measures during peak periods.
Officials clarified that the existing online booking and virtual queue system will remain in place even after the introduction of the AI-powered crowd management system, with the new technology functioning as an additional layer to improve safety, reduce congestion and make the pilgrimage experience more seamless for devotees.
