New Delhi: After months of shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees can now visit the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala. While the temple opened for the annual two-month-long Mandala-Makaravillakku season on Sunday, pilgrims could start visiting from today morning amid strict Covid-19 regultions.

A report by PTI said that Melshanti A K Sudheer Namboothiri opened the doors of the sanctum sanctorum and lit the lamps at 5 pm in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, heralding the start of the 62-day long pilgrim season.

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Initially, only 1000 pilgrims will be allowed in a day. Travancore Devaswom Board had earlier announced that the number of pilgrims visiting the temple on Mandavilakku & Makaravilakku days will be increased to 5000.

Some of the Covid-19 arrangements include

  • Devotees will have to book through a virtual queue system

  • Only 1000 pilgrims will be allowed to offer prayers in a day

  • Pilgrims will have to carry Covid-19 negative certificate taken 24 hours before they reach Nilackkal and Pamba, base camps

  • Covid-19 kiosks will be open at the base camps for testing

  • Devottes will not be allowed to stay at the temple premises.

  • During Saturdays and Sundays, 2000 people would be allowed darshan

  • Antigen test facilities will be 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

  • Those in the 10-60 age group will only be allowed to offer prayers at the shrine

  • Pilgrims can trek only through Swami Ayyappan road

  • Doctors, including specialists, will be posted on a rotation basis for seven days each while all other staff will be posted on a rotation basis for 15 days from November 15 to January 19, next year