Online booking starts for Sabarimala darshan during Makaravilakku festival

Devotees will be allowed to visit Sabarimala hill shrine only after producing a COVID-negative certificate following an RT-PCR test, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said, even as the Kerala High Court granted permission to allow 5,000 pilgrims to visit the temple from Sunday. The online booking for the temple visit has started on Monday at 5 pm.

Thiruvananthapuram: Booking or the virtual queue for darshan at the Sabarimala Temple for Makaravilakku pilgrim season starting from December 31 has started from 5 pm on Monday.

Pilgrims can book and reserve the virtual queue slots for darshan until January 7. According to the temple authority, up to 5000 pilgrims will be allowed entry per day during the Makaravialkku season. All pilgrims reaching the temple for darshan after booking through virtual queue system are to produce COVID negative certificates, by testing within 48 hours from the time of reporting at the Temple.

Pilgrims must undergo the RT PCR test and bring COVID negative results to enter the temple premises after booking. No one would be permitted to enter the Temple without producing COVID negative certificates. No arrangements have been done for COVID tests at Nilakkal.

Earlier, a negative certificate from antigen test was enough for the devotees to visit the shrine.