Sabarimala Temple to receive more devotees; Devaswom board permits a maximum of 2000 pilgrims

Thiruvananthapuram: Shabarimala temple, opened for the annual pilgrimage season of Mandala-Makaravilakku, is all set to receive more pilgrims now with the Kerala government announcing to allow more darshan devotees by complying to the protocols of COVID-19.

According to the new decision, a maximum of 2000 devotees will be permitted to have darshan on weekdays at the hill temple and 3000 on Saturdays and Sundays, State Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said. "It has been decided to allow more pilgrims at the Sabarimala temple. The entire booking will be done via online," he added.

Pilgrims can book Darshan from today via the virtual queue system on the website concerned, the minister added.Noting that the entire pilgrimage must adhere to the guidelines of COVID-19, he said all devotees were expected to produce a negative certificate for the coronavirus test given within 24 hours before reaching the base camp, Nilakkal. Arrangements for devotees to undergo the test have been rendered at Nilakkal.

The minister added that pilgrims can also check in at any licenced COVID-19 kiosks operated by government or private agencies anywhere en route to Sabarimala. In the meantime, antigen screening in Sabarimala and its base camps has been increased by the State Health Department to monitor the potential spread of the viral infection in view of the rise in the number of approved pilgrims at the hill shrine.

On Monday, the department began testing at Sannidhanam, which is the temple complex, and Pamba, the base camp, for all types of workers and volunteers working for more than 14 days at the shrine and its grounds, official sources said. At the health centre in Pamba, a total of 200 persons are tested everyday. Of the 200 cleaners who were screened on Monday, four were positively tested for the virus and referred to the first-line COVID care centre at Erumeli.

A total of 39 people, including pilgrims, police officers and temple staff, were tested positive for coronavirus in Sabarimala until November 27, as the temple here was opened on November 16 for the annual pilgrimage season.

The temple would be closed on January 20 after the Makaravilakku rite on January 14, marking the end of the season.

It is the first annual pilgrimage season since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, at the hill shrine.

(reported by Safa Maryam)