By P. Sarojini
KOCHI, Kerala (CWBN)_ Kerala government announced that strict Covid safety measures will be enforced during this Sabarimala pilgrimage. The two-month-long annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season began in Kerala on Sunday amidst the strong wave of coronavirus infections spreading in the state. Hence, the Kerala government enforced strict Covid-19 guidelines to be followed by devotees during the pilgrimage. As a tradition, every year, pilgrims from other states of the country and across the world visit the state’s Sabarimala temple between November and December for their pilgrimage and it is one of the world-renowned religious traditions of Hindus.
The Hill Shrine Lord Ayyappa Temple on Sabarimala was opened on Sunday by the head priest A.K. Sudheer Namboothiri in the presence of a chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru, but the pilgrims were allowed inside the temple only the next day with high preventive measures. The temple officials informed that the pilgrims can start trekking from 3 am in a virtual queue system. The Travancore Devaswom Board who manages the Sabarimala temple and the hill shrine reported that a large number of pilgrims who visited the temple on the first day belonged to the neighboring states.
The Covid-19 protocols enforced by the state government includes compulsory mask wearing for the pilgrims as well as the policemen and the temple board members; a Covid-negative test certificate taken within 24 hours which is checked at every entry point; health fitness certificate; prebooking for dharshan through virtual queue system; and strict social distancing during trekking. A troop of policemen were appointed for surveillance throughout the trekking route to monitor if the Covid guidelines were followed by the pilgrims. The government had set up base camps at Nilackkal and Pamba for the benefit of the pilgrims and Covid-19 kiosks were also set up at various places and at the base camps for those who want to have a test.
As a tradition, hundreds of thousands of people visit Sabarimala temple every year to offer their prayers during this season. But this year, due to the prevailing coronavirus infections in the state, the temple board announced that the number of pilgrims has considerably reduced and that only 85,000 pilgrims will be allowed for prayers during the entire 62-day season. To avoid crowding in the temple, it was announced that only 1000 pilgrims who have already booked their dharshan via virtual queue system will be allowed inside the temple during the week days and 2000 people will be permitted for dharshan during the weekends.
Wearing masks was made compulsory to the pilgrims, but exemption was given to remove them while climbing up the hill due to high physical activity. The state government and the temple board have tightened Covid-19 protocols to ensure that no infected person will enter the temple nor participate in the pilgrimage.
Edited by Elishya Perera
