With four days to go for the January 14 Makaravilakku, the high point of the pilgrimage season, Sabarimala has turned into a sea of humanity with lakhs of pilgrims pouring in each day.

The heavy rush of Saranam-chanting pilgrims has made access to the temple tough and 12 to 16 hours of waiting in the queue for a darshan has become the norm. All entry points to the hills are choked with vehicles of all kinds arriving from across the country, especially Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Police barricades that regulate the flow of crowds get broken frequently because of the push of the pilgrims.