All set for annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple

Pathanamthitta: Doors of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa shrine will be opened next week for the two-month long annual pilgrimage season during which 30,000 devotees per day will be allowed to have darshan through a virtual queue system, officials said here on Friday.

The pilgrimage will commence on November 16. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 5 PM on November 15 in the presence of chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu by outgoing priest V K Jayaraj Potti.

Appointment ceremony of the newly selected priests (melsantis) of Lord Ayyappa and Malikappuram temples in the hills will be held later in the evening.

The pilgrimage will be held strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocol with authorities insisting that two doses covid vaccination certificate or RT-PCR negative certificate taken within 72 hours is mandatory for visiting the hill shrine.

The devotees should also produce original Aadhaar cards, a TDB official said here.

The base camp will be at Nilackal. There will be a spot virtual queue booking facility at Nilackal. No parking for vehicles will be allowed in Pampa. However, Pampa snanam (bathing in river pampa) will be allowed. Pilgrims will not be allowed to stay in Pampa and Sannidhanam.

Those who complete darshan should leave the premises.

Trekking to the temple will be allowed only through the Swami Ayyappan Road.

The ghee being brought by the pilgrims in coconuts for Neyyabhishekam will be collected by the TDB staff through special counters and sanctified ghee will be returned to the pilgrims through special counters of the Devaswom.

Arrangements have been made for the pilgrims to purchase prasadam while returning to Pampa after having darshan.

The 41-day Mandala puja festival will conclude on December 26.

The temple will be opened again on December 30 for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage. The Makaravilakku is on January 14, 2022, and the temple will be closed on January 20, 2022. Police have strengthened the security for ensuring a smooth Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

State police chief Anil Kant said plans have been made to provide strict security in and around Sabarimala in connection with this year’s Mandala-Makaravilakku festival.

Crime Branch ADGP S Sreejith will be the Chief Police Coordinator for security arrangements. Southern Region IG Harshita Attalloori is the Joint Police Coordinator. Armed Police Battalion DIG P Prakash and Thiruvananthapuram Range DIG Cory Sanjay Kumar Gurudin are the additional police coordinators.

Security will be beefed up at Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal, police said.