Sabarimala will be opened today for Mandala puja, Devotees will be allowed to enter from Monday

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Sabarimala temple will reopen on Sunday evening at 5 pm for the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku season puja. Pilgrims will be allowed to enter the temple from Monday 5 am onwards. Melsanthi A K Sudheer Namboothiri will light the lamp in the presence of Kandararu Rajeevaru.

Medical fitness certificate was made mandatory for those between the age group of 60 and 65. The pilgrims should have the covid negative certificate conducted within 24 hours. Noting that mask was not mandatory for pilgrims while trekking, Surendran said the relaxation was according to the protocol that provided exemption during high physical activity but added that devotees should follow strict Covid-19 protocols. Used masks should not be thrown away and arrangements would be made to collect and recycle them, official sources added.

The temple will be opened on Vrischikam 1 by Melshanti V K Jayaraj Potti. Security arrangements will be put in place under the guidance of four SPs and during the Makara Vilaku season, the security arrangements will be divided into four phases, which will be supervised by south zone IG and DIG. In the first phase, starting from Monday to November 30, the responsibility for security arrangements are given to R Sukeshan and B Krishnakumar whereas security charges for Pamba will be bestowed with K M Sabu Mathew and K L Johnkutty.

The darshan will be allowed as per Covid 19 protocol. Police personnel will not be deployed in the 18th step to help the pilgrims. Facilities to sanitise hands and legs will be put in place below the last step. Blocking the flyover, the pilgrims will be allowed to enter into the shrine, in three lines through the right side of the flag post. Counters will be made available, to give Neythenga. Balitharpanam won’t be allowed in the banks of Pampa this time.