(Image source from: Thehindu.com)

Sabarimala Temple to Open from November 15th:- The prestigious Sabarimala temple of Kerala will open for the Mandala-Makaravilakku season from November 15th. All the coronavirus protocols and social distancing measures should be strictly followed once the temple reopens for the public. All the devotees will be allowed the following day. The Mandala pooja is expected to take place on December 26th afternoon and the Sabarimala temple will be closed on the same night with Harivarasanam song. Sabarimala temple will be open again in January with Makaravillaku which takes place on January 14th and the temple will be closed after completing the Makaravillaku rituals.

All the devotees will have to register on the virtual queue system with the Kerala police and they would be allowed into the Sabarimala temple. A maximum number of 1000 devotees are allowed to enter into Sabarimala temple per day from November 16th. When it comes to weekends, the temple will allow 2000 devotees. An expert committee is formed to take care of all the implementations of coronavirus. All the devotees will be checked at Nilakkal and all the pilgrims, devotees will have to carry coronavirus negative certificates during the check.

All the devotees will have to register at the COVE 19 jagratha portal before their travel to the Sabarimala temple. The entry points will also have rapid coronavirus tests conducted and the devotees have to pay for the rests. The famous Pampa river is closed for pilgrims and bathing in the river is prohibited. All the lodges in and around Sabarimala temple will remain closed. All the devotees who are aged above 60 and below 10 years are not allowed into the Sabarimala temple. The temple authorities said that all those who are suffering with cough, cold and those who recovered from coronavirus are asked to stay away from visiting Sabarimala temple.