Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 9 (IANS): All arrangements, including strict Covid protocols, are in place for the annual two-month-long festival season of the famed hilltop Sabarimala temple, Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said on Monday.

The annual festival begins on November 15 and the most important Makarvilaku day will be held on January 14, 2021.

All pilgrims will have to register in the virtual Q system.

Shailaja said all pilgrims who arrive for the pilgrimage will have to carry with them a Covid negative certificate and the test should have been done within 24 hours of their arrival.

"The test, including a rapid antigen test, can be done at private or state-run laboratories and once in the state and enroute to the temple town, there are numerous testing centres including kiosks where the tests could be done," she said.

Shailaja said that all the pilgrims will have to strictly adhere to the Covid protocols.

"At no cost, crowding of pilgrims will be allowed. All have to wear masks, maintain social distancing and should sanitise themselves very frequently. Pilgrims who recently turned Covid negative should best not come and it is also advisable those who have Covid symptoms not undertake the pilgrimage. It's also advised that pilgrims undergo a pulmonology and cardiology fitness test," she said.

One major change this time is that the popular holy dip in river Pamba will not be allowed and instead a shower system will be provided where all pilgrims can undertake, before they begin their climb to the temple.

"All arrangements would be done to sanitise the toilets," added Shailaja.

Another feature this time has been it has been decided to provide a steel vessel for taking drinking water with the pilgrim on a deposit of Rs 100. If the vessel is returned, the money will be refunded.

Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, Sabarimala temple is four km uphill from Pamba in Pathanamthitta district, which is around 100 km from the state capital.

The temple, which bars the entry of women who have attained puberty, is accessible only on foot from Pamba.

Every pilgrim carries with him/her a kit (which contains coconuts which are broken just before climbing the 18 steps) on their head during the pilgrimage. Without it, no one is allowed to go up the holy 18 steps at the Sannidhanam.