The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple in Kerala has reopened for its yearly two-month long Mandala-Makaravillakku season, strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocol. Lord Ayyappa devotees will be permitted to offer prayers from Monday morning.

Each day, only 1,000 pilgrims, who have booked through the virtual queue system, would be permitted to offer prayers. And, each pilgrim will have to carry a COVID-19 negative certificate taken 24 hours before they reach Nilackkal and Pamba, base camps. Covid-19 kiosks have also been opened at the base camps for testing and pilgrims will not be allowed to stay at the temple premises.

According to temple sources, even though the temple reopened on Sunday evening, no special pujas were held.  Melshanti (the chief priest) AK Sudheer Namboothiri opened the doors of the Sanctorum and lit the lamps at 5 pm in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, heralding the start of the 62-day long pilgrim season.

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