The Sabarimala temple in Kerala is all set to open its gates for devotees from July 17-21 for monthly pooja. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday announced that the entry into the hill shrine will be allowed only to those who have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
Those who are yet to receive the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine will have to submit a negative RT-PCR test certificate conducted within 72 hours of the visit to the temple. To follow Covid-19 protocols, a maximum of 5,000 people will be allowed through a virtual queue system for darshan.
The Sabarimala temple is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world as every year, millions of people wait for hours to climb the 18 gold-plated steps leading to the shrine.