Lord Ayyappa temple opens for monthly poojas sans devotees

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.

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.

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However, devotees will not be allowed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The TDB, in a release, also said the temple will again open for Onam poojas from August 29 to September 2.

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.