Sabarimala Temple To Open For Makaravilakku Festival From Dec 30; Booking Through Virtual Queue System Begins

Devotees can seek darshan at the Sabarimala temple from the morning of December 31, 2020 until January 19. The temple will be closed on January 20 after the darshan

(File Photo by ARUN SANKAR / AFP)

Hill abode of Lord Ayyappa, the Sabarimala temple that was closed on Saturday after mandala pooja, will open on December 30 at 5 pm for "Makaravilakku" the annual festival at the hill shrine. Sabarimala ‘Makaravilakku’ is on January 14. As reported by new agency ANI, the devotees can seek darshan at the temple from the morning of December 31, 2020 until January 19. The temple will be closed on January 20 after the darshan by Panthalam Royal family representative. Keeping in the mind the Covid-19 pandemic, several measures have been taken into consideration to avoid the spread of the deadly disease. As per the reports, the authorities have made arrangements of virtual queue booking for the pilgrimage. Devotees visiting the temple can book online from the official website of the temple from December 28.

Covid-19 Precautionary Measures At Sabarimala Temple:

It is to be noted that devotees who wish to visit Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala will now have to carry a Coronavirus negative certificate after undergoing an RT-PCR test. Only 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to participate and only those in the 10-60 age group allowed to offer prayers at the shrine. Doctors including specialists posted on a rotation basis for seven days each while all other staff has been posted on a rotation basis for 15 days from November 15 to January 19, 2021. Antigen test facilities available in various centres including all bus stands and railway stations at Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kottayam, where pilgrims arrive to proceed to the Ayyappa temple.