After six months of closure and opposition from organisation of devotees representing the famous Lord Ayyappa, the temple has been thrown open to devotees on Saturday. As per the news agency PTI, the temple which opened for the monthly puja on Friday evening will allow pilgrims to offer prayers till October 21. Also Read: J&K: 1 Terrorist Gunned Down By Security Forces In Anantnag, Encounter Still Underway

The first day of the opening saw worshippers in masks who have carried Covid-19 negative certificates for offering prayers.

In order to ensure that devotees are infected by Covid-19, rapid antigen tests are being conducted at Nilackal for those not carrying a negative test report.

After the nationwide lockdown was enforced in March 25, pilgrims have not been allowed to offer prayers at the hill shrine, which opened at 5 am.

So far, almost 246 people have booked through the virtual queue system for darshan on Saturday. As per the protocol, each day only 250 people will be allowed inside the temple. The usual rush of devotees was missing this time.

Though the temple opened on Friday evening for the monthly puja, entry of devotees was allowed only from Saturday, the first day of 'Thulam' (malayalam month).

Only those between 10-60 years, having a medical certificate stating that they were fit to trek the holy hill, are being allowed to offer prayers.

It is important to note that pilgrims are not allowed to stay at Sannidhanam, Nilackkal, or Pamba due to the spread of the disease. Earlier in August, an organisation that represents devotees of Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, has come down strongly on the move by the Government and temple authorities to open the temple for darshan during the upcoming Mandala-Makara Vilakku season.

Citing various reasons, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam in a press release says though the authorities have stipulated several riders, the move to open the temple is not appropriate and is tilted in favour of the wealthy devotees.