Kerala: Sabarimala Temple to reopen from June 14, 50 people to be allowed at a time

As a part of Centre's 'Unlock 1' which has allowed reopening of religious places in first phase, Sabarimala Temple in Kerala is set to reopen from June 14 for devotees and for monthly rituals and festivals. temple will be open for five-day monthly rituals in Malayalam month of Midhum that commences on June 14. 

Meanwhile, for Sabarimala festival from June 19 to June 28, a virtual queue system has been set up in which 200 people will be allowed to register within an hour. To avoid crowding, 50 devotees will be allowed to be present in front of temple. devotees will be scanned before entering premises, while use of masks/face covers has been mandated along with regular sanitation drives. 

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Devasom Minister Kadakampally Surendran informed ANI that administration has made two slots for temple visit - 4 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 11 pm. accommodation will be provided to devotees in Sabarimala. Moreover, those devotees coming from or states will have to provide an ICMR lab certificate proving that y haven't been infected with Coronavirus. temple has also capped maximum number of visitors in a day to 600 and a batch of 50 people, allowed at a time, will be given only 15 minutes to remain on premises. 

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Health Ministry issues SOP

Ahead of religious places of worship opening up on June 8, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), on Thursday, issued SOP for same. Ministry has advised persons over 65 years, pregnant women, and children under 10 to stay at home. It added that religious places in containment zones were t allowed to open and must remain shut. Entrance must have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitiser dispenser) and rmal screening provisions and only asymptomatic persons must be allowed and entry must be staggered, SOP furr advised. Here is full SOP issued

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(With ANI Inputs)