SABARIMALA: Sabarimala temple is all set to reopen its doors to devotees for five days from October 16 during the Malayalam month of Thulam amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The reopening of sanctum sanctorum will be held at 5 pm on Friday

As per the guideline issued by the Travancore Devasom Board(TBD), only 250 people will be allowed to enter the temple for prayers per day. Online booking for the visit will be done on a first-come-first-served basis and a virtual portal for the bookings has already been opened for the public.

The selection of the chief priest (Melsanthi) of the temple for the next one year starting Malayalam month of Vrishchikam will take place in the early hours of October 17 through a draw. Nine candidates are on the final list for Sabarimala and 10 for Malikappuram.

The Board further mentioned that all pilgrims need to take a COVID-19 test at least 48 hours before reaching the hilltop shrine and producing a negative certificate will be mandatory for all. And pilgrims arriving without the certificate will have to undergo a COVID-19 test at the base camp at Nilakkal.

The government has also banned bathing in the Pampa River and has arranged for temporary showers for pilgrims instead. The TBD also informed that toilet and bathroom facilities have been set up at Pampa, Nilakkal, and Sannidhanam and that arrangements for sanitisers, soap, and water have been made at various points.

Devotees will ascend and descend through the Swami Ayyappan Road and special marks have been put in place for devotees to perform darshan at Sannidhanam in accordance with the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. However, there will be no accommodation for devotees at Sabarimala, the TDB added.