This is for the first time since March 25 when a nationwide lockdown was imposed due to the spread of the Covid19 pandemic (which had stopped the entry of worshippers in all temples including Sabarimala) that the devotees are being allowed to offer prayer at the temple. Sabarimala temple, located inside the Periyar tiger reserve (known as Poongavanam) in Perinad village, run by the Travancore Devaswom Board, represents the confluence of Shaktism, Vaishnavism, Shaivism and is dedicated to the celibate deity Ayyappan.
There are certain restrictions which need to be followed by the devotees while the temple is being reopened. After a long time of almost seven months, Sabarimala temple in Kerala reopened for the devotees with a set of new rules. These rules would work as pre-cautionary measure for the entire group of worshippers who want to take part in Darshan. The new guidelines enunciated by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the authority running the temple, include that the devotee must carry a ‘coronavirus-negative report’, obtained 48 hours before reaching the temple, and wear mask at all times in the temple campus at Pambha. Only 250 people would be allowed inside the temple per day to avoid any rush. They must book in advance for Darshan through the virtual queue system. The reopened temple will allow devotees to offer prayer till October 21.
There were plans for opening the temple in June, within three months of the beginning of lockdown, but the chief priest (tantri) of the temple and other organizations were against it keeping in mind the safety of the devotees.
On Saturday, the first day of the Malayalam month, Thulam, as many as 246 devotees registered for offering prayers at the Sabarimala temple. Due to the rising number of cases of coronavirus in Kerala, the state government has come up with some strict protocols under which a covid-19 negative certificate is mandatory before reaching the shrine. And those devotees who fail to carry a covid-19 negative test report should go through the Rapid antigen test which would be conducted at Nilackal. The worshippers in the age group of 50 to 60 years are needed to carry a medical certificate with them which would indicate that they are fit to trek the holy hill at the temple site. Those who carry the corona negative test certificate and the medical certificate (in the age group of 50-60 yrs) will be allowed to offer prayer to Ayappan after trekking the hill at Sabarimala temple.
The temple, one of the richest in the country, was closed for seven months, and has now been reopened as it is the peak season, in which the devotees from five south Indian states would reach the temple. Around 4, 00,000 to 8, 00,000 devotees generally reach the temple in the peak season. The devotees would worship the deity Ayyappan, the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine avatar of Vishnu. The shrine will be closed after the Harivarasanam rendition on October 21. Special shower which was set up as customary bathing at Pamba River will not be allowed this time. The guidelines further add that the pilgrims will not be allowed to stay at Nilakkal, Sannidhanam, or Pamba due to the situation of Covid19 pandemic. Devotees will be allowed to enter through Vadasserikara and Erumeli routes and the rest of the routes will be sealed as stated by TDB (Travancore devasom board). Children below 10 years of age and devotees above 60 years of age would not be allowed to visit the shrine as of now, till the Covid situation normalizes as stated by TDB in its guidelines.
The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness.
