60,000 devotees to be allowed to visit Sabarimala per day

T'PURAM: The state government has come up with more relaxations in Sabarimala during the ongoing festival season in the wake of reduction in the Covid-19 spread in the state. The number of devotees who can visit the temple has been increased to 60,000 per day from 45,000 per day.
The government has also decided that 500 rooms that have been readied in Sannidhanam will be opened for devotees, with only one person allowed in each room.The Travancore devaswom board (TDB) has been asked to conduct sanitization in each of the rooms as per the Covid-19 protocols.
Devotees will be allowed to perform Neyyabhishekam from 7am to 12 noon, considering there would not be a heavy rush during the morning hours. The traditional route from Pamba, passing through Neelimala, Appachimedu and Marakkoottam, will be opened for devotees, as at present, tractors carrying goods to Sannidhanam are taking the same route as that of devotees.
The district administration of Pathanamthitta has been given permission to assess the water level in Pamba and accordingly allow devotees for holy bath and conducting last rites of the deceased near the banks of the river. The traditional forest path to Sabarimala can be opened for the devotees, and the forest department has been asked to make necessary arrangements and take necessary precautions.
Even though the number of devotees, who would be allowed to Sabarimala, has been increased to 60,000, the virtual queue system will continue.
The TDB had requested the government to provide more relaxation in the wake of the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases in the state. However, the relaxations have been offered with certain conditions.
As per the order issued by the revenue (devaswom) department in this regard, all such relaxations will be withdrawn if any Omicron cases are detected among devotees or officials on duty in Sabarimala. The ongoing Mandalam-Makaravilakku season will continue up to January 20. Strict Covid-19 protocols are being followed in Sabarimala, including a certificate for two Covid-19 vaccine doses or an RT-PCR negative certificate, taken within 72 hours prior to reaching Sabarimala.