The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has announced precautionary measures in temples, including revised timings and entry restrictions for devotees, in view of the COVID-19 threat. They will be in force till March 31.
Devotees will not be allowed inside administrative officer grade temples and special grade temples till March 31. The restrictions will also be applicable to the Sabarimala temple festival which begins on March 29, the TDB said in a statement. Pujas will be held in all the temples.
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Temples will remain open only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The board has advised temples to plan daily rituals in accordance with the revised hours.
The TDB has asked temples to scale down festivals and restrict them to the temple premises. Temples have been instructed to postpone offerings booked in advance and also cancel the ‘annadanam’ for the time being.
‘Bali’ rituals will not be held at the temples at Thiruvallam, Thirumullavaram and Varkala.
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The ‘dikkubali’, part of the festival at the Vellayani temple, also has been put off. Further, temples have been instructed not to parade elephants during festivals.