Devotees can visit Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala for the two-month-long festival of Mandala-Makaravilakku. The hill-top shrine shall reopen on November 15 and devotees will be permitted for darshan from November 16. Veena George, the state health minister revealed that the department has made arrangements to ensure the safety of pilgrims and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
COVID-Negative Test Or Full Vaccination Certificate Mandatory
To enter the revered Sabarimala Temple, devotees need to produce a Covid-19 negative RT PCR test report taken not more than 72 hours prior to visiting the shrine. Fully vaccinated devotees must show a vaccination certificate as proof. Moreover, all devotees must carry their Aadhaar cards with them.
Shrine Was Earlier Opened For 5-Day Monthly Pujas
And while the shrine had open its doors at 5 pm, devotees were allowed to step in after 5 am on Saturday. The shrine was open on October 17 for five-day monthly pujas. October 17 also marks the first day of Malayalam month ‘Thulam’. Here are 5 Women’s-Only Temples In India Where Men Are Not Allowed.
1000 Devotees Were Allowed To Offer Prayers
Pilgrims had to book tickets through the virtual queue system. Only 1,000 devotees were allowed to offer prayers daily,. However, on weekends 2, 000 people were allowed in the holy shrine. Face masks, sanitisers and gloves were made mandatory. Police personnel had been deployed, and medical staff had also been stationed at hospitals in Nilackal, Sannidhanam and Pamba as a precaution. Here are 10 Unusual Temples Of India You Probably Didn’t Know Of
Devotees will also have to abide by all social-distancing norms at the shrine.