A decision has been taken to increase the number of devotees allowed to visit the Lord Ayyappan temple in Sabarimalai in a high-level meeting conducted, presided by the Chief Secretary of Kerala State.
Due to the spread of the raging coronavirus pandemic, the number of devotees visiting the temple has been limited. 1000 devotees are allowed daily during the weekdays and 2000 devotees are allowed inside the Lord Ayyappa temple during the weekends.
Due to this restriction, the revenue earned by the Dewaswom Board is considerably less and it is facing an acute financial hardship.
Hence, an appeal was put up by the Dewaswom Board to the State Government of Kerala to increase the number devotees allowed.
Subsequently, to take q decision on this issue, a high-level meeting was conducted yesterday (Thursday, 26th November) presided by the Chief Secretary of the State Government of Kerala, Viswas Mehta.
Apart from the various secretaries of the Departments under the State Government of Kerala, Dewaswom Board President Vasu and the Commissioner Thirumeni participated in the above high-level meeting.
Though there was an objection from the Department of Health, a decision was taken by the majority to increase the number of devotees.
The details of the increase in the number of devotees permitted per day will be announced after the consulting meeting with the Kerala State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Subsequently, the online registration for the additional devotees allowed will commence.