Sabarimala Ayyappa temple opens for monthly puja

Pilgrims not allowed darshan in the wake of COVID-19

Melsanthi A.K. Sudheer Namboodiri opening the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala on Sunday afternoon for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Midhunom that begins on Monday.

The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has opened for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Midhunom that begins on Monday. However, pilgrims were not allowed to visit the temple as the Travancore Devaswom Board decided against allowing people due to the COVID-19 situation.

Melsanthi A.K. Sudheer Namboodiri, opened the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu and devaswom officials at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The TDB has posted only limited staff at Sabarimala. Executive Officer Rajendraprasad told

The Hindu that only routine rituals would be performed at the Ayyappa temple and at the Malikappuram Devi temple at Sabarimala on all the five days. The rituals will begin with the Ganapati homom on Monday morning, the first day of Midhunom.

Ganapati homom, Abhishekom, Ushapuja, Athazhapuja, and Deeparadhana are the rituals to be performed at Sabarimala on all five days.

Online booking

The board has made arrangements for online booking facility for certain offerings such as Pushparchana, Neeranjanom and so on. The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on June 19.