![Sabarimala temple opens for pilgrims, declared as special security zone](http://media.assettype.com/tnm%2Fimport%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fsabarimala.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
The News Minute| November 17, 2014| 12.00 pm ISTThousands are thronging the Sabarimala temple that opened for pilgrims on Sunday with a Ganapathy pooja.With lakhs expected to visit the temple during the pilgrimage season, police has declared all roads to Sabarimala hill shrine and adjoining areas as Special Security Zone till the culmination day of Makaravilakku festival. This move is as part of security arrangements taken to prevent any kind of security threats during the ongoing pilgrimage season. The routes to Sabarimala from and through Elavunkal, Chalakayam, Pampa, Neelimala, Sannidhanam, Swami Ayyappan Road, Pandithavalam, Uppupara, Pulmedu, Kozhikkanam and Sathram and the adjoining areas extending one kilometre on both sides of the route is declared as Special Security Zone.The Times of India reports that this alert has come in the backdrop of a possible visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sabarimala during this pilgrimage season. Moreover, Modi's willingness to trek the six-km from Pampa to the shrine, in case of security clearance, have put the authorities on an extra alert.Pic courtesy- Sabarimalai FB community