With just a few days left for the Sabarimala festival to start, only 1,000 devotees will be allowed to offer prayers each day at the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa from November 16 when the two-month long pilgrim season begins. This is being done keeping the coronavirus cases in mind. However, the numbers can be increased up to 5,000 on special days like Mandavilakku and Makaravilakku days and on weekends. Devotees will be required to produce COVID-19 negative certificate obtained within 24 hours of darshan. Those deployed for duties at the temple will also have to produce the same. If pilgrims from other states tested positive, they would be given all facilities for undergoing treatment in Kerala. If they wished to return to their respective states, necessary arrangements would be made. Overnight halt at Sannidhanam will not be allowed.
