Mandalakala-Makaravillakku festival under Covid restrictions
The annual two-month-long pilgrimage to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala’s Sabarimala began on Monday amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Devotees were only allowed to enter the temple on Monday morning with strict Covid-prevention measures in place.
Pilgrims were allowed to start trekking at 3 am through a virtual queue system, temple officials said. Most pilgrims who reached were from neighbouring states, said the Travancore Devaswom Board which manages the hill shrine.
Employees of the temple board and police personnel kept vigil along the trekking route to ensure devotees follow all the Covid-19 protocols, which include a compulsory Covid-negative test, a fitness certificate and mask wearing.
Kerala Sabarimala Temple opens for festivals
Every year, lakhs of people visit the Sabarimala temple during the 62-day pilgrimage season. However, this year about 85,000 devotees would be allowed to offer prayers during the entire season, said the temple board to avoid crowding in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To enter the Sabarimala temple, all pilgrims will have to carry a Covid-19-negative certificate taken 24 hours before they reach the base camps at Nilackkal and Pamba. Covid-19 kiosks have also been opened at the base camps for those who want to get tested.
Though wearing a mask is compulsory, pilgrims will be allowed to remove them while climbing up to the temple. To make sure that the pilgrims who depart Pampa by 7 p.m. are reaching the Sannidhanam before the hill temple closes at 9 p.m., the police will monitor the movement of pilgrims along the trekking route using CCTVs.
A decision to this effect was arrived at a high-level committee meeting convened by the Sabarimala Special Officer B Krishna Kumar at the Sannidhanam on Thursday. The meeting also decided to deploy Covid-19 protocol-cum-line officer in all the departments functioning at the Sannidhanam. These officers will lead the follow-up action in case of the employees at their respective departments are confirmed of the virus infection.
Accordingly, a Covid-19 coordination committee comprising protocol officers from each department was formulated, which has also been empowered to inspect the Sannidhanam and surrounding areas and take action.
The meeting also decided to arrange a space for the pilgrims on the eastern track of the flyover to unlace their Irumudikettu in adherence to Covid-19 guidelines. Steps have been also made to ensure that restaurants are using disposable plates and glass for supplying food and the distribution is being carried out in accordance with Covid-19 protocol. The Health Department will provide face-masks and gloves to the Ayyappa Seva Sangam workers on duty at the emergency centres at Marakoottam, Charalmedu and Sannidhanam.
Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) executive officer VS Rajendra Prasad, festival controller BS Sreekumar, executive magistrate PV Sudheesh, medical officer Mrithul Murali Krishnan were present.
Meanwhile, the authorities will soon open two more shower sets comprising 20 each at Pampa, taking the total number of shower units to 60. While the first set of showers installed in October cost Rs 7.25 lakh, the remaining two sets are coming up at a cost of Rs 20 lakh.
The shower unit, coming up near the TDB toilet block along the main road, are being installed by the Major Irrigation Department The water to these units, supplied by the Kerala Water Authority, is diverted to the sewage treatment plant.
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