The Sabarimala temple in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district reopened its doors from Monday for the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival, which will last for two months. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple was opened in the presence of chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu by outgoing priest V K Jayaraj Potti. Pilgrims will be able to seek blessings of Lord Ayyappa from Tuesday.
After the ritualist poojas, the new priests – N Parameshwaran Namboothiri for Sabarimala and Shabhu Namboothiri for the Malikappuram Devi temple – took charge.
The hilltop shrine will first be open for the 41-day Mandala puja festival, which will end on December 26. It will reopen on December 30, with darshan permitted until January 20 for the Makaravilakku festival, according to reports.
The pilgrimage will be held strictly adhering to Covid-19 protocol with authorities insisting that two doses covid vaccination certificate or RT-PCR negative certificate taken within 72 hours is mandatory for visiting the hill shrine.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George had said on Sunday that the department has made elaborate preparations for pilgrims in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. She said emergency medical centres and oxygen stations would be established in five locations along the route from Pamba to Sannidhanam.
The devotees should also produce original Aadhaar cards, a TDB official said. The base camp will be at Nilackal. There will be a spot virtual queue booking facility at Nilackal. No parking for vehicles will be allowed in Pampa. However, Pampa snanam (bathing in river pampa) will be allowed. Pilgrims will not be allowed to stay in Pampa and Sannidhanam.
Those who complete darshan should leave the premises. Trekking to the temple will be allowed only through the Swami Ayyappan Road.
The ghee being brought by the pilgrims in coconuts for Neyyabhishekam will be collected by the TDB staff through special counters and sanctified ghee will be returned to the pilgrims through special counters of the Devaswom. Arrangements have been made for the pilgrims to purchase prasadam while returning to Pampa after having darshan.
Police have strengthened the security for ensuring a smooth Sabarimala pilgrimage season. State police chief Anil Kant said plans have been made to provide strict security in and around Sabarimala in connection with this year’s Mandala-Makaravilakku festival. Crime Branch ADGP S Sreejith will be the Chief Police Coordinator for security arrangements. Southern Region IG Harshita Attalloori is the Joint Police Coordinator. Armed Police Battalion DIG P Prakash and Thiruvananthapuram Range DIG Cory Sanjay Kumar Gurudin are the additional police coordinators.
Security will be beefed up at Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal, police said.
Rains: No Spot-booking, Pilgrims to be Limited
But as rains thrash Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after a meeting of district collectors and officials that number of pilgrims to Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala would be limited for the next three to four days due to the heavy showers.
The ritualistic bathing in the river Pampa will not be allowed as its levels were dangerously high, spot booking will be stopped for the time and changing dates of those who booked through virtual queue system will also be considered to control the flow of pilgrims, the release said.
(with inputs from PTI)
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