COVID-19 negative certificates mandatory for Sabarimala pilgrims

The Sabarimala temple festival beginning November 16 will be held as per the COVID-19 protocol and pilgrims flow will be regulated through virtual queue system. Pilgrims reaching Sabarimala with COVID negative certificate would have to register their names on the portal and they would be permitted for ‘darshan’ at the Sannidhanam.

Thiruvananthapuram:Devotees to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala will have to carry COVID-19 negative certificates for darshan when the temple opens for the over two-month-long pilgrim season from November 16.

Only a limited number of devotees will be allowed and entry will be restricted through the virtual queue management system.

The decisions in this regard were taken at a high-level online meeting chaired by Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Monday to assess various arrangements before the start of the festival, which will be held strictly on the basis of COVID-19 protocols.

"Further meetings will decide on the exact protocols which will have to be followed. Chief Minister will also be joining in the upcoming meetings," said Surendran.

"The devotees will have to carry COVID-19 negative certificates for darshan", a release quoting the minister said.

N Vasu, President of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the hill shrine, also participated.

The meeting observed that the pilgrim season this time has thrown up a big challenge in the backdrop of the pandemic. It decided that the COVID-19 protocol would be strictly followed and very few pilgrims would be allowed for darshan this year.

Situated in the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, the Sabarimala Temple is located in the Pathanamthitta district. The shrine attracts lakhs of devotees from all over the world every year.

With inputs from agencies