Amid pandemic, subdued Makaravilakku festivities at Sabarimala this 12 months

In distinction to final 12 months, when almost three lakh folks thronged the Sabarimala temple premises, the festivities of Makaravilakku at present, an important day of the annual pilgrimage, will put on a subdued look on account of the continuing pandemic.
Only 5000 pilgrims can be allowed into the temple advanced Thursday to supply prayers with strict Covid-19 protocols of carrying masks and social distancing in place, mentioned officers of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the hill-top shrine. Entry of pilgrims into the temple advanced can be shut at midday.
Throughout the annual pilgrimage, solely those that produced detrimental RT-PCR and antigen take a look at outcomes for Covid-19 had been granted permission to climb the hill from the bottom camp of Pamba, guaranteeing little or no transmission of the illness.
TDB president N Vasu instructed reporters that although there’s a important discount within the variety of pilgrims this 12 months resulting from pandemic restrictions, all safety preparations are in place to make sure that those that do go to the temple are in a position to make a easy and completely happy pilgrimage. Adequate shares of the principal choices of appam and aravana payasam can be found, he mentioned.
Barricades have been erected at key factors to control the move of devotees within the presence of a heavy safety blanket. Pilgrims who reached Sabarimala and supplied prayers in earlier days is not going to be allowed to remain again atop the hill for the Makaravilakku festivities.
Mohan Ok Nair, vice-president of the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham, a pilgrim group, mentioned they’ve despatched solely 70 volunteers this 12 months to help pilgrims resulting from low crowds.
“Usually, we send more than 300 volunteers for Makaravilakku. But this year, due to restrictions, there are less devotees,” he mentioned.
By night at present, the Thiruvabharana procession from Pandalam palace, carrying the sacred ornaments and jewels for the presiding deity, will attain Sabarimala the place they are going to be given a proper welcome by minister for temple administration Kadakampally Surendran and prime officers of the TDB.

Around 6:30 pm, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple will open for the auspicious Deeparadhana, with the deity carrying the sacred ornaments, adopted by the sighting of the Makarajyothi within the Ponnambalamedu hills — the climactic second of the annual pilgrimage.
But this 12 months, folks is not going to be allowed to assemble at locations like Pullumedu, Pamba hilltop, Panchalimedu and Parunthumpara to see the Makarajyothi in view of the pandemic protocol.

Pathanamthitta district, the house of the Sabarimala temple, has been seeing a surge in infections in latest weeks and well being officers have warned of penalties of huge gatherings.
Revenue from pilgrim move into Sabarimala throughout Makaravilakku season this 12 months has drastically come down when in comparison with final 12 months. This 12 months, the TDB’s revenue was reported at Rs 6.33 crore up until January 12, in comparison with Rs 60.2 crores in the identical interval final 12 months. This might power the TDB to ask the state authorities for added monetary help.