Devotees can start booking Sabarimala poojas online from tomorrow via www.onlinetdb.com. Online accommodation bookings at the Sannidhanam will also open on the same platform.
Virtual queue bookings for darshan had already started on November 1 at 5 p.m. through sabarimalaonline.org. Up to 70,000 devotees can book slots per day via the virtual queue system.
In addition, real-time booking counters will operate at Vandiperiyar, Erumeli, Nilakkal, and Pamba, allowing a maximum of 20,000 devotees per day.

This pilgrimage season, accident insurance coverage for devotees has been extended across Kerala. Any Ayyappa devotee meeting with an accident anywhere in the state will now receive up to ₹5 lakh in insurance coverage.
If a devotee dies during the pilgrimage, ambulance expenses up to ₹30,000 (within Kerala) and ₹1 lakh (outside Kerala) will be provided for transporting the body home. The insurance scheme has also been extended to include Devaswom Board staff—both permanent and temporary—as well as government employees on Sabarimala duty.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department has launched a statewide registration drive across all districts in Kerala. The campaign aims to bring more traders under the GST system and increase the number of GST return filings.

The initiative was announced by Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal in the 2025–26 state budget.

As per GST law, businesses dealing only in goods with an annual turnover above ₹40 lakh, and businesses providing services with an annual turnover above ₹20 lakh, are mandatorily required to obtain GST registration.

In addition, traders covered under special circumstances listed in Section 24 of the GST Act must also register, regardless of their turnover.

Malappuram: Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has announced that the Argentina football team, led by Lionel Messi, will visit Kerala for a friendly match in March next year. The minister claimed that an email confirmation from the Argentine team was received two days ago, though he has not released the message publicly.

He stated that the team had confirmed their visit and that the Argentine Football Association would soon make an official announcement. The match, initially planned for November 17, was postponed due to infrastructure issues at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.

However, questions remain about FIFA’s approval for the event. Earlier, it had been announced that the team would visit in October, then November.

Meanwhile, on November 14, Argentina is scheduled to play a friendly match against Angola in Luanda, marking the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence.

Separately, as part of the GOAT Tour 2025, Messi will visit India in December along with stars Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez. However, according to Messi’s own Facebook post, this visit is for charity activities, not a football match.

Unnikrishnan Potti has been arrested in connection with the second case related to the Sabarimala gold theft. The latest arrest pertains to the theft of gold from step of the temple. He was taken into custody after being produced before the Ranni court. Unnikrishnan will remain in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, Travancore Devaswom Board President P. S. Prasanth stated that the investigation into the Sabarimala gold heist is progressing properly. He added that action will be taken against retired officials once the official report is received. The board meeting will not discuss such matters, and no comments will be made before the report is submitted to the court.

Prasanth further mentioned that all future proceedings will be under the supervision of the Vigilance SP. A response to the notice is expected soon. The Sabarimala keezhshanthis (assistant priests) will be under strict vigilance monitoring. The Devaswom Vigilance SP will oversee this process. Individuals like Unnikrishnan Potti, who are accused in the main Sabarimala gold theft case, will be removed from related duties.