The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has announced precautionary measures in temples, including revised timings and entry restrictions for devotees, in view of the COVID-19 threat. They will be in force till March 31, reported by The Hindu.

Devotees will not be allowed darshan inside administrative officer grade temples and special grade temples till March 31. The restrictions will also be applicable to the Sabarimala temple festival which begins on March 29, the TDB said in a statement. Pujas will be held in all the temples.

Temples will remain open only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The board has asked temples to plan daily rituals as per the revised hours.

The TDB has urged temples to keep a low affair during festivals and restrict them to the temple premises only. Temples have also been instructed to postpone offerings booked in advance and also cancel the ‘annadanam’ for the time being, keeping in view the deadly corona virus outbreak.

‘Bali’ rituals will not be held at the temples at Thiruvallam, Thirumullavaram and Varkala.

The ‘dikkubali’, part of the festival at the Vellayani temple, also has also been postponed. Further, temples have been instructed not to parade elephants during festivals.

Image source: The Hindu