The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has been opened for the two-month-long annual pilgrimage from Monday. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple was inaugurated by outgoing priest VK Jayaraj Potti in the presence of Chief Priest (Tantra) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanraru.
New priests – N Parameswaran Namboothiri for Sabarimala and Shabhu Namboothiri for Malikappuram Devi temple – also took charge from today after the puja.
Even though the Sabarimala temple is open for pilgrims, they will be allowed only from November 16. Meanwhile, the state government has decided to limit the number of pilgrims to the hill top for the next three or four days due to heavy rains.
“Ritual bathing will not be allowed in the Pampa river as its level is dangerously high, spot-booking will be put on hold for the time being and the flow of pilgrims will be controlled even if the date of those booked through the virtual queue system is changed. will be considered. ,” the government said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, State Health Minister Veena George said all facilities have been made to ensure the safety of Sabarimala pilgrims in view of heavy rains in Pathanamthitta district, where the temple is located.
“The working of the departments concerned is being closely monitored. Incessant rains have damaged some roads in the temple and surrounding areas. Traffic has been diverted from roads facing flood-like situation.”
The minister said that the departments have been directed to ensure that the route to the hill-top temple is safe. The government after considering the situation of COVID-19 pandemic has decided to allow only 30,000 devotees per day to have darshan through the virtual queue system this season.
The pilgrimage will be conducted strictly following the COVID-19 protocol, with officials insisting that two doses of a Covid vaccination certificate or RT-PCR negative certificate taken within 72 hours at the hill shrine Mandatory to go.
Devotees should also present the original Aadhar card. Trekking to the temple will be allowed only from Swami Ayyappan Road. Ghee being brought in coconut by the pilgrims for Neyyabhishekam will be collected by TDB staff through special counters and the holy ghee will be returned to the pilgrims through special counters of Devaswom.
Arrangements have been made to buy prasad after visiting the pilgrims while returning to Pampa. The 41-day Mandala Puja festival will end on December 26. The temple will be reopened on December 30 for Makaravilakku pilgrimage.
Makaravilakku is on January 14, 2022, and the temple will be closed on January 20, 2022. Police have beefed up security to ensure the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
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