Sabarimala festival to witness lesser footfall; pilgrims to register on ‘Q system’, have Covid-negative proof

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 Ayyappa worshippers and pilgrims of annual Sabarimala festive season could this year find it a bit difficult to make it to the temple as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that the state government might restrict the number of pilgrims in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The annual two-month-long festival will nevertheless be held, albeit with very strict protocols. The festival season shall commence on November 15 and the ‘Makaravilakku’, the most important day, will be held on 14 January 2021.

“We get maximum pilgrims from neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It has been decided that a committee led by our Chief Secretary will sit down and decide how many pilgrims should come from these states and once done, our officials will go to these states and inform the authorities there. Likewise, there will be a ministerial level meeting with these states. All pilgrims will have to register in the virtual Q system. Those coming from neighbouring states will have to come with a Covid negative certificate and once here, all will have to undergo a test. At no cost, will pilgrims be allowed to stay back in the temple. They will have to return back soon after offering the prayers,” Vijayan said in wake of a spike in coronavirus cases in Kerala.

It has also been decided that the holy dip in river Pamba will also not be allowed. Instead, pilgrims will be provided a shower before they start their ascent to the temple.

“We have decided to provide a steel vessel for taking drinking water with the pilgrim on a deposit of Rs 100. If the vessel is returned, the money will be returned,” the CM said, urging that it’ll be good if children and those aged above 65 avoid the pilgrimage this year.

The state health department, however, is yet to decide if masks will be made mandatory for the pilgrims when they in the temple premises.

The Sabarimala pilgrimage

Located in the mountain ranges of Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, the Sabarimala temple is a four-kilometre uphill path from river Pamba in Pathanamthitta district, which is roughly 100 kms from the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.

The temple bars the entry of women who have attained puberty and is accessible only on foot.

Pilgrims carry with them a kit, which contains coconuts that are broken just before climbing the 18 steps to the shrine, on their head. Without that, no one is allowed to climb up to the ‘Ssannidhanam’ (sanctum sanctorum).