As of next month, pilgrims not contaminated with Covid-19 will be permitted on a limited basis at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.President N Vasu of the Travancore Devaswom Board said that limited pilgrims, including those from other states, would be allowed through a virtual queue in the temple.
People will be given a time slot when they can visit the temple and will have to come accordingly to avoid crowding and maintain physical distance.Most of the devotees were from Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry and Tamilnadu. In order to enforce restrictions on pilgrims, Kerala ministers and officials will initiate a dialogue with those governments. According to the Chief Minister, a five-member committee headed by Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta will prepare the modalities.
In general, every first day of the month pilgrims are permitted to visit the Temple. During the last few months of the temple, because of the pandemic, there will be only a few visiting pilgrims to the temple, beginning on October 17, by Tulam.
N Vasu said a panel of experts was set up and they would decide about how the decision would go forward. The Committee shall decide, among other things, on transport logistics, the number of pilgrims permitted and food offering. He said that there will be a small number of people making food supplies and common plates will not be used when delivering food too.Aligning with COVID-19 precautionary protocols some of the rituals such as Neyyabhishekam can be avoided. Sannidhanam accommodation is not permitted either.
Chief priest ('Melshanti') is chosen for the Ayyappa shrine even when the temple opens in October to monthly pooja.
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