Sabarimala darshan: Covid negative report and fitness certificate mandatory

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Not just the Covid negative certificate, a medical fitness certificate to prove that you are fit to trek the holy path, has also made mandatory for the devotees who are reaching to have darshan at Sabarimala from Saturday. The temple will be opening on Friday evening for a five-day long Thulam month pooja.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it has become essential for the devotees to prove that they are physically fit to trek the holly path since the pandemic season has led to several kinds of health issues among the people. ``It is being made mandatory for the benefit of the devotees. The government wants to assure that they do not develop any health issues while trekking the holy path. It has also been decided not to make masks compulsory while trekking,’’ he said.
The devotees will be allowed to trek only through Vadasserykara and Erumeli. All the other passages to the Sabarimala have been blocked for entry. All devotees will have to climb adhering to Covid protocols. Devotees should not trek in a gang and they should maintain social distancing.
Only those who are between the age group of 10 and 60 will be allowed to trek the holly path. Through the virtual queue booking, the date and time has been given for the darshan. The devotees should strictly maintain the time given for having darshan.
Only 250 people per day will be allowed to have darshan. No one will be allowed to have bath at Pampa. Instead showers have been set up there. Adequate police force has been deployed from Nilackal to Sannidhanam. The devotees should strictly comply with the directions given by the police. Two hospitals have been set up at Nilackal and Pampa, said the chief minister.