RT-PCR test Compulsory from today for Sabarimala pilgrims.
Key points:
- The Temple Managing Board of Travancore Devaswom (TDB) also said that the RT-PCR test certificate is necessary.
- The recent High Court Order also increased the number of allowable regular pilgrims to 5,000.
- The temple will remain shut on December 26 after the Mandala Puja and reopened on December 31 for the Makaravilakku pooja.
Devotees visiting Lord Ayyappa’s hill shrine at Sabarimala will have to bring a Covid-19 negative certificate with them after completing an RT-PCR examination, guided by the Kerala High Court well as the state government.
President of the TDB N Vasu Stated:
The Temple Managing Board of Travancore Devaswom (TDB) also said that the RT-PCR test certificate, issued no more than 48 hours previous to their visit to the temple, is necessary for pilgrims of 26 December.
After an RT-PCR exam, the Covid-19-negative certificate collected no more than 48 hours before they visited the temple, is a must for pilgrims to visit the shrine.’ Otherwise, they would not be able to conduct a pilgrimage,’ said N Vasu, president of the TDB, in a statement.
The state Health Department has intensified antigen testing:
The recent High Court Order also increased the number of allowable regular pilgrims to 5,000. The State Health Department has enhanced antigen testing in Sabarimala despite the rise in the number of approved pilgrims at the hill’s shrine.
TDB reduced the number of participants during the Makaravilakku:
However, during the Makaravilakku ceremony, the TDB reduced the number of people participating in the three-day procession bearing the Thiruvabharanam adorned with the idol of Lord Ayyappa to 100. The receptions for the procession were cancelled at different points on the way to Sabarimala, TDB reported.
Temple will be closed from 26:
The temple will remain shut on December 26 after the Mandala Puja and will be reopened on December 31 for the Makaravilakku pooja. This is the first annual season of pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic at the hill temple.
The Covid-19 situation in kerala:
Besides that, on Friday, over 5,000 new coronavirus cases were registered in Kerala, includes 46 health workers, as well as 11.4 per cent, who were affected by the positive test rate.
With 16 deaths were added to the tally, the death toll increased to 2,930. With this, the caseloads of Covid-19 in the state rose to 7,32,084, and the cumulative recoveries reached 6,64,951.
