Pathanamthitta: The Lord Ayappa temple in Sabarimala will open on Saturday evening at 5 for the Vishu special puja. ‘Vishukani’ darshan will be held in the wee hours of April 14.
Devotees will be allowed to enter the temple from Sunday to April 18. The temple doors will be closed after the ‘Harivarasanam’ song on April 18.
‘Udayasthamana Puja’, ‘Kalabhabhishekam’ and ‘Padi Puja’ will be carried out at the temple.
Entry for 10,000 people per day
A total of 10,000 people will be allowed to visit the temple daily. Only those who book via virtual queue will be permitted in the temple.
The Devaswom Board informed that those who took the two doses of COVID vaccine can visit the temple. Meanwhile, the RT-PCR test is mandatory for all devotees who didn’t take the two jabs of the vaccine.
Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan will visit the temple on Sunday. He will stay at the Devaswom guest house at Sannidanam after paying obeisance to Lord Ayappa.
He will leave the guest house on Monday after visiting the temple.
COVID test at Nilakkal
Facility for RT-PCR test will be arranged at Nilakkal. The result will be issued within 4 hours. Small vehicles carrying the pilgrims will be allowed to Pamba. These vehicles must be parked at Nilakkal after dropping off the passengers at Pamba.
At the same time, devotees are restricted from taking bath in Pamba river. Hence, shower bath facility is arranged at the river bank.
‘Kettu Nirakkal’ is allowed in Ganapati Kovil.
Police will examine the documents of the virtual queue at the counter near Ganapati kovil. Hot water packed in steel bottles will be distributed at Pamba after charging Rs 200. The devotees can collect the money after returning the bottle while leaving the temple.
Hot water will be provided at the Nadapanthal area. Devotees will be allowed to enter and leave the temple via Swami Ayappan road.
From Marakkoottam area, the devotees have to move via Chandranandan road to Sannidanam. Devotees are restricted from visiting the priests including Tantri and chief priest.
Seven counters will be established near ‘Aazhi’ (sacred fireplace) for distribution of Appam and Aravana.
Devotees would not be allowed to stay at Sannidanam. ‘Annadanam’ facility will be provided at Sannidanam.
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