The pilgrimage resumed at 10.30 am after the district administration lifted the ban.
Pathanamthitta (Kerala):
Heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, threatening the Sabarimala pilgrimage last night, but devotees were again allowed to visit the holy hills on Saturday after authorities closed two shutters of the Pamba dam under water. Picked up later. Level rose.
The district administration of Pathanamthitta on Friday issued an order banning Saturday’s pilgrimage to the famous Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in view of incessant rains and rising water levels in major rivers, including the Pamba.
Temple officials said on Saturday that normalcy has returned to Sabarimala today, especially in the hill shrine areas, as there has been no major rainfall.
District Collector Divya S Iyer, in compliance with last night’s prohibitory orders, allowed pilgrims stranded in Nilakkal to go to Sabarimala hills and offer prayers at the temple in a phased manner, ensuring their safety.
An official statement said the decision was taken based on discussions on the current situation between Ms Iyer, who is also the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, and Arjun Pandian, ADM of Sabarimala.
It said that the water level of Pamba river and associated dams would be monitored at regular intervals and permission for ‘darshan’ would be based on that.
An official of the Travancore Devaswom Board said the pilgrimage resumed at 10.30 am after the district administration lifted the ban.
He told PTI, “The rain has subsided in the area and the pilgrimage is going smoothly. Since the temple was closed till 10.30 am, the temple is witnessing huge crowd at present. Around 20,000 people visited the temple today alone. Booked for.” ,
Meanwhile, the officials urged the residents of river banks, Sabarimala devotees and general public to take necessary precautions in view of the lifting of the two shutters of Pamba Dam.
The released water is expected to reach “Pamba Triveni”, part of the Sabarimala pilgrimage, he said and urged people living in low-lying areas to move to safer places.
In view of the inclement weather conditions and the COVID-19 situation, hundreds of devotees are trekking the hills to offer prayers at the Ayyappa temple, as it begins on November 16, for the two-month annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. was opened.
Like last year, devotees are being allowed through a virtual queue system this time too, as part of efforts to control the flow of pilgrims in the wake of the pandemic and heavy rains.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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