TDB Makes Covid-19 Negative Certificate Mandatory for Devotees to Lord Ayyappa Shrine at Sabarimala
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Devotees visiting the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala must carry a COVID- 19 negative certificate after undergoing an RT-PCR test, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which manages the temple said on Sunday. TDB President N Vasu said the RT-PCR test certificate, taken not more than 48 hours prior to their visit to the temple, is must for pilgrims from December 26. COVID-19-negative certificate after a RT-PCR test, taken not more than 48 hours prior to their visit to the temple, is a must for the pilgrims to visit the shrine. Else they will not be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage, Vasu said in a release. The decision was taken in the backdrop of a recent directive by the Kerala High Court, which also raised the number of pilgrims permissible daily to 5,000.
TDB makes COVID-19 negative certificate mandatory for devotees to Lord Ayyappa shrine
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Dec 20: Devotees visiting the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala must carry a COVID- 19 negative certificate after undergoing an RT-PCR test, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which manages the temple said on Sunday.
TDB President N Vasu said the RT-PCR test certificate, taken not more than 48 hours prior to their visit to the temple, is must for pilgrims from December 26.
“COVID-19-negative certificate after a RT-PCR test, taken not more than 48 hours prior to their visit to the temple, is a must for the pilgrims to visit the shrine. Else they will not be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage,” Vasu said in a release.
Sabarimala temple is under Travancore Devaswom Board. (File)
Devotees visiting the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala must carry a COVID-19 negative certificate after undergoing an RT-PCR test, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which manages the temple said on Sunday.
TDB President N Vasu said the RT-PCR test certificate, taken not more than 48 hours prior to their visit to the temple, is must for pilgrims from December 26. “COVID-19-negative certificate after a RT-PCR test, taken not more than 48 hours prior to their visit to the temple, is a must for the pilgrims to visit the shrine. Else they will not be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage,” Vasu said in a release.
High Court order to be implemented at Sabarimala from December 30
From December 30, only those producing COVID-19 negative certificates will be permitted entry into the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
Though an advisory by the State Health Department stipulated production of RT-PCR results from December 27 onwards, the authorities have decided to extend its implementation on a directive by the Kerala High Court. While raising the number of permissible daily pilgrims to 5,000, the High Court also directed that COVID-19 negative certificates be insisted from devotees from December 30.
According to officials, the four days when the temple remains closed after the Mandala Puja on December 26 will be used for streamlining the RT-PCR testing facilities for the pilgrims. “They may undergo the test anywhere in Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla or Chengannur, but will have to plan the onward journey to the Nilackal base camp in a way not to miss the slots booked in the virtual queue,” said an offi