<p>The famous Lord Ayyappa temple here opened on Sunday on the eve of the monthly five-day poojas for the Malayalam month of Chingam but the bar on the devotees' entry will continue as per Covid-19 health protocol.</p>.<p>The temple will remain open till August 21 and only the usual rituals will be conducted, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the hill shrine, said.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html">Follow latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>However, devotees will not be allowed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>The TDB, in a release, also said the temple will again open for Onam poojas from August 29 to September 2.</p>.<p>The board has already said devotees to the shrine will have to carry Covid-19 negative certificates for darshan, when the temple opens for the over two-month-long pilgrim season from November 16.</p>
<p>The famous Lord Ayyappa temple here opened on Sunday on the eve of the monthly five-day poojas for the Malayalam month of Chingam but the bar on the devotees' entry will continue as per Covid-19 health protocol.</p>.<p>The temple will remain open till August 21 and only the usual rituals will be conducted, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the hill shrine, said.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html">Follow latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>However, devotees will not be allowed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>The TDB, in a release, also said the temple will again open for Onam poojas from August 29 to September 2.</p>.<p>The board has already said devotees to the shrine will have to carry Covid-19 negative certificates for darshan, when the temple opens for the over two-month-long pilgrim season from November 16.</p>