Kerala: Sabarimala Temple Reopens For Mandala Festival Amid Strict COVID-19 Norms

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said elaborate arrangements have been made to check possible spread of Covid after pilgrims start thronging Sabarimala shrine. 

New Delhi: The Sree Dharma Sastha Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district will open on Monday evening for the two-month long Mandala-Makaravilakku festival amid strict Covid-19 norms.

Devotees will be allowed to pay respects to the shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa from Tuesday.

Health Minister Veena George said on Sunday elaborate arrangements have been made to check the possible spread of Covid virus after pilgrims start thronging the shrine. 

“At the state level, special meetings were convened in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki districts to coordinate the activities. The health department officials are being deployed at treatment centres from Pamba to Sannidhanam. These centres will be operational from Monday,” news agency ANI  quoted Health Minister Veena George as saying on Sunday. 

Specialised dispensaries have also been arranged in Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilakkal, Charalmedu (Ayyappan Road), Erumeli, George added.

According to the state authorities, those willing to visit the shrine must have a full vaccination certificate or must have a negative RT-PCR test report of the last 72 hours. Devotees should also produce their Aadhaar card in order to enter the shrine, an official told news agency PTI.

Earlier, it was decided to allow 30,000 pilgrims to visit the Sabarimala temple on a daily basis. However, due to the prevailing climatic conditions, it has been decided to cut down this number, sources said. A decision on this regard will be taken by the police and Travancore Devaswom Board on Monday.  

As rains continue to lash parts of Kerala, it has been decided that devotees will be allowed to take the ritualistic dip in Pamba river only after the water level decreases. Trekking to the Sabarimala shrine has been allowed only through the Swami Ayyappan Road.

The Sabarimala temple will first open for the 41-day Mandala festival that will conclude on December 26. It will again open on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival, allowing devotees to visit the shrine till January 20, ANI quoted sources as saying.