They were made to wait for more than 15 hours in a queue that stretched beyond “Appachi Medu” (about 2.5 kms from the “Sannidhanam”) and hardly moved a step following utter mismanagement by the Kerala police. The problem started around 12 noon when many devotees were abruptly stopped which within minutes crossed “Saram Kuthy”. By 2 pm, the line was out of control as many devotees began entering the Sannidhanam from the “Marakotam entrance,” which is meant for exit. Instead of taking action, police were mute spectators at this point.

As the intruding devotees started to get into the already waiting line at “Nada Pandal” (aka Nambiar Shed), the disciplined devotees were easily outnumbered by the unruly ones. Resistance from the devotees who were patiently waiting was met with fisticuffs and shoving which was ignored by the police though it happened right before them. “Nada Pandal,” where devotees follow a “serpentine queue” is the place before reaching the holy 18 steps.