Kerala Formulates Action Plan Ahead Of Sabarimala Pilgrimage From Nov 16

All basic facilities for the pilgrimage, adhering to social distancing norms according to the government guidelines, are ready at the Lord Ayyappa temple and its premises, state Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan told the state assembly. This year's pilgrimage season would begin on November 16.

With the annual pilgrimage season in Sabarimala only a month away, the Kerala government on Wednesday said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a safe darshan for pilgrims in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All basic facilities for the pilgrimage, adhering to social distancing norms according to the government guidelines, are ready at the Lord Ayyappa temple and its premises, state Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan told the state assembly.

A joint action plan of the Health and Revenue Departments has been drawn up to address the matters in various sectors including the hospital facilities in Pamba, on the foothills of the hill shrine located in Pathanamthitta and nearby Erumeli and arrangements for the RT-PCR test, he said during the question hour.

"However, the government is yet to take a final decision on the number of pilgrims to be permitted for darshan and the relaxation in the existing guidelines," the minister said.