Key facts
- Sivarathri at Aluva Manappuram in February 2023 was the first full-scale festival after a two-year interval caused by the pandemic, according to Onmanorama.
- For 2023, Onmanorama reported 1,200 police at Manappuram and 120 additional KSRTC services.
- On Sivarathri 2024 (8 March), Kochi Metro ran until 11.30 pm and restarted at 4.30 am the next morning at 30-minute intervals, Onmanorama reported.
- For Sivarathri 2026 (15 February), Onmanorama reported 1,500 police and 210 special KSRTC services, showing how arrangements have grown since 2023.
Why a year-by-year record helps
Our Aluva Sivarathri guide explains the ritual and the practical side of the night. What it cannot show is change over time. Police numbers, extra buses, metro hours and special trains are announced fresh each year, usually only a few days ahead. Looking back at what was actually arranged is the best way to guess what the next year will look like, and where the pinch points are likely to be.
The years covered here also mark the festival’s return to full size. The pandemic disrupted public gatherings in 2020 and 2021, which we cover in our Covid-19 archive. Onmanorama described the February 2023 festival as coming “after a two-year interval”.
Timeline
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Feb 2023 | Festival rituals begin at the Aluva Mahadeva Temple | Onmanorama (16 Feb 2023) |
| 17–18 Feb 2023 | Main festival days; bali rituals begin at midnight on 18 Feb; 1,200 police and 120 extra KSRTC services | Onmanorama |
| 18 Feb 2023 | Special train from Thrissur to Aluva and extra stops for the Nilambur–Kottayam Express | Onmanorama |
| 8 Mar 2024 | Kochi Metro runs until 11.30 pm from Aluva and Thripunithura for Sivarathri | Onmanorama (7 Mar 2024) |
| 9 Mar 2024 | Metro runs 4.30–6 am at 30-minute intervals for returning devotees | Onmanorama (7 Mar 2024) |
| 26 Feb 2025 | Maha Sivarathri; detailed arrangements not verified by us | — |
| 15 Feb 2026 | 1,500 police, 110 bali platforms, 210 special KSRTC services | Onmanorama (14 Feb 2026) |
2023: the first full festival after the pandemic
Onmanorama’s report of 16 February 2023 gives the most complete picture of any recent year. The main days were 17 and 18 February, with bali rituals starting at midnight on the 18th. The arrangements it listed were:
- Police: 1,200 personnel at Manappuram, with a medical team, two Fire and Rescue vehicles, scuba divers and volunteers.
- Ritual space: seven demarcated areas on the riverbank, with barricades.
- KSRTC: 120 additional services. Buses towards Thrissur left from the Manappuram stand, Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha buses from Gandhi Square, and Cherthala-bound buses from the private bus stand.
- Trains: a special from Thrissur to Aluva on 18 February; extra stops for the 16325 Nilambur–Kottayam Express; the 06461 Shoranur–Thrissur special extended to Aluva; the 16609 Thrissur–Kannur Express starting from Aluva on 19 February.
- Taxis: squads under the Regional Transport Officer to check overcharging on 18 and 19 February.
- Ferry: the jankar from Manelikadavu charged a fare only on 17 and 18 February.
The article did not mention Kochi Metro arrangements, which is a gap rather than evidence that none were made.
2024: the metro becomes part of the plan
Sivarathri fell on 8 March 2024. The best-documented change that year was on the metro. Onmanorama reported on 7 March that Kochi Metro would run until 11.30 pm from both Aluva and Thripunithura Terminal, at 30-minute intervals after 10.30 pm, and would run again from 4.30 am to 6 am on 9 March, also every 30 minutes, for people returning after the rituals. The full-line fare from Aluva to Thripunithura was ₹60, a useful reference point for our Kochi Metro fare history.
We did not find a 2024 report that gave police or KSRTC numbers, so we have left them out rather than carry over 2023 figures.
2025: what is and is not on record
Maha Sivarathri fell on Wednesday 26 February 2025. We were not able to find a reliable published account of that year’s police deployment, KSRTC services or metro hours in the sources we checked, and we have not filled the gap with estimates. If you hold a dated notice from KMRL, KSRTC or the Ernakulam Rural Police for 2025, it would complete this record.
For comparison, the 2026 festival on 15 February had 1,500 police, 110 bali platforms, 210 special KSRTC services and metro service until 11.30 pm, with trains from Aluva again from 4 am the next morning, according to Onmanorama. Our Sivarathri 2027 page looks ahead.
Lessons for planners
- Scale has grown. Reported police numbers rose from 1,200 (2023) to 1,500 (2026), and KSRTC extras from 120 to 210.
- The night has two peaks. The 2024 and 2026 metro timetables both added early-morning trains, which tells you when the return rush happens.
- Rail matters. Special trains and extra stops in 2023 show that many devotees come from Thrissur and beyond. Our page on Aluva railway station covers the walk.
- The same ground serves Karkidaka Vavu. Many of the same arrangements reappear in July or August; see Karkidaka Vavu at Manappuram.
Living one stop away
The NAD signal is a short ride from Aluva, so Sivarathri traffic and crowded trains reach north Kalamassery too. If you are staying at Ashraf Gents Hostel and work night shifts or at the airport, check the year’s notices early. More local history is in the Kalamassery history archive and our Aluva history page.
Frequently asked questions
How many police were deployed for Aluva Sivarathri in 2023?
Onmanorama reported 1,200 police at Manappuram for the February 2023 festival, along with fire and rescue units and scuba divers.
Did Kochi Metro run late for Sivarathri 2024?
Yes. Onmanorama reported service until 11.30 pm on 8 March 2024 and early trains from 4.30 am to 6 am on 9 March, at 30-minute intervals.
What arrangements were made for Sivarathri 2025?
The festival fell on 26 February 2025, but we could not verify that year’s police, bus or metro arrangements from published sources, so this page leaves them out.
How have arrangements changed since 2023?
Reported police numbers rose from 1,200 in 2023 to 1,500 in 2026, and extra KSRTC services from 120 to 210. Late-night and early-morning metro trains have become standard.
Is the 2023 festival why people say Sivarathri ‘came back’?
Yes. Onmanorama described the 2023 festival as coming after a two-year interval caused by the pandemic.
Related guides
Sources
- Onmanorama: Aluva Manappuram all set for Shivratri festival (16 Feb 2023)
- Onmanorama: Kochi Metro special services for Sivaratri, 8 and 9 March (7 Mar 2024)
- Onmanorama: Sivaratri bali tharpanam at Aluva Manappuram (14 Feb 2026)
- Onmanorama: Kochi Metro services for Shivaratri (13 Feb 2026)
Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed . How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.
Cite this guide: Ashraf Gents Hostel. “Aluva Sivarathri 2023–2025: Crowds, Arrangements and Lessons.” Published 8 October 2026. https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/aluva-sivarathri-2023-2025-archive/ Plain-text (Markdown) version · quoting with a link back is welcome.