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. ALSO READ: Face Masks & Social Distancing Compulsory, Physical Offering Of 'Prasad' Prohibited: Check SOPs For Religious Places Opening In Maharashtra 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