The Sabarimala temple in Kerala witnesses an overwhelming number of devotees each year, especially during the Mandal-Makaravilakku season. With increasing crowds, managing accommodation, security, and queue systems has become a significant challenge. Devotees often struggle with unclear information about temple timings, routes, group coordination, and weather updates, leading to avoidable accidents, particularly during trekking in the monsoon. To address these issues, a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot named ‘Swami’ has been launched.
This was launched in the district of Pathanamthitta, at the initiative of Collector Prem Krishnan, on 13 November by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. For coverage, the drive was conducted through media, FM radios, and social media for wider reach. The chatterbot interacted with more than 1.5 lakh devotees in just five weeks, which goes to testify the filling up of any information gaps.
The Swami chatbot is a step ahead in the use of technology to make the pilgrimage experience better. It tackles major concerns about safety, accuracy of information, and language barriers for millions of devotees who visit Sabarimala every year.
