As CM Pinarayi Vijayan met the press today evening, he made it clear that the places of worship across the state would start opening from June 9 onwards. However the places of worship should act strictly according to the guidelines put forward by the government. According to the guidelines, every pilgrim would have to wear masks and have to follow physical distancing. People can enter the premises of the religious institutions, on first come basis, and number of people visiting the place at a time would have to be regulated, according to the size of the institution. Authorities have to make sure that people visiting the places of worship, are not allowed to touch the shrines and holy books.
Authorities of the places of worship would also have to ensure that people are not sung, rather recordings are played. The guidelines strictly prohibit the conductance of baptisms with physical contact. Similarly, every places of worship, have to make sure that no one makes physical contact, while entering the premises of the pilgrim centers. No pilgrim centers can serve food items, such as prasadams. Most importantly, authorities have to record the names and whereabouts of each of the pilgrims. Worshipers, who are aged between 10 and 65 can visit the worshiping places, however pregnant women are strictly prohibited. Those who are tested positive with the virus, would strictly have to stay out from places of worship. It was also suggested that separates access points can be arranged for entry – exit points of the worshiping places. Worshipers can also not share the mats and clothes. Sabarimala would remain open from June 9 onwards, provided that no more than 50 worshipers visit the pilgrim center at a time.
