SABARIMALA : The famous Lord Ayyappa temple here was opened to devotees on Saturday morning after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, and some worshipers wore masks and carried a negative COVID-19 certificate offering prayers.
The temple, which opened for the monthly puja on Friday night, will allow pilgrims to offer prayers until October 21.
Rapid antigen testing is underway at Nilackal for those who do not have a negative test report for COVID-19.
This is the first time since March 25, when a national closure took effect, that pilgrims are allowed to offer prayers at the hilltop shrine, which opened at 5 a.m., according to sources from the Board. of Travancore Devaswom (TDB), which administers the temple. , He said.
Up to 246 people have booked through the virtual queue system for darshan on Saturday. Each day only 250 people will be allowed inside the temple.
This time the usual stream of devotees was lacking.
Although the temple opened on Friday night for the monthly puja, the entry of devotees was only allowed from Saturday, the first day of ‘Thulam’ (month of Malayalam).
Only those between the ages of 10 and 60, who have a medical certificate stating that they were fit to walk the holy hill, can offer prayers.
Due to the pandemic, pilgrims will not be able to stay in Sannidhanam, Nilackkal or Pamba.
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