This year’s annual pilgrimage to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala will begin from November 16.
Thiruvananthapuram:
Only a month after the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala, the Kerala government on Wednesday said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a safe darshan for the pilgrims in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan told the state assembly that all basic facilities for the pilgrimage, as per government guidelines, are ready in the Lord Ayyappa temple and its premises.
A joint action plan of the health and revenue departments has been drawn up to address the cases in various areas, including hospital facilities at Pamba, Pathanamthitta and the foothills of the hill temple at nearby Erumeli and arranging RT-PCR testing. he said during Question Hour.
“However, the government is yet to take a final decision on the number of pilgrims to be allowed for darshan and relaxation in the existing guidelines,” the minister said.
Review meetings of the concerned departments and the Devaswom Board, the apex temple body that manages the temple, were held as part of preparations for the impending pilgrimage season.
Besides meetings to finalize transport facilities for the two-month-long pilgrimage season, a meeting was also convened to expedite steps to ensure adequate drinking water, food and toilet facilities in the temple premises and surrounding centres. Went. for the pilgrimage, the minister said.
This year’s annual pilgrimage season will begin from November 16.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had imposed strict restrictions for the pilgrims to visit the holy Sabarimala and worship there.
Last year the number of pilgrims allowed to visit the hill shrine during the season was also regulated, which would otherwise attract lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad to worship Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity. .
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