Pilgrimage To Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple Suspended Today Amid Heavy Rainfall
The Ayappa temple was opened for devotees on November 16 for the two-month-long annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season
Mumbai: The famous Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala hill in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala has suspended pilgrimage for a day on Saturday due to heavy rain in the district and the rising water levels in major rivers.
Pathanamthitta district administration Friday issued the order. “In order to ensure the safety of pilgrims, it is hereby declared that the pilgrimage to Pamba and Sabarimala tomorrow (20-11-2021) is prohibited,” the order issued by District Collector Divya S Iyer said on Friday.
The district administration said that Pamba, considered a holy river, is swollen and the Pamba dam, where red alert status has been issued, will be opened later in the day.
The Pathanamthitta administration said that red alert status has also been issued for the Kakki-Anathode reservoir. The situation in other parts of the state is stable.
DC Divya S Iyer said that once the weather conditions turn, the pilgrims who have booked a slot via the virtual queue system will be given an opportunity for “darshan” in the nearest possible slot.
Like the previous year, the devotees are being allowed through a virtual queue system, in view of the pandemic and heavy rains to regulate the flow of pilgrims.
The Ayappa temple was once again opened for devotees on November 16 for the two-month-long annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Braving inclement weather conditions and the Covid-19 situation, hundreds of devotees have been trekking the hills to offer prayers.
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