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The trek from Pampa to the ‘sannidhanam’ of the temple, which is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is both exhilarating and transcendent.
It was in December 2015 that the Centre had sanctioned Rs. 100 crore.
Sabarimala is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world. The pilgrimage, which began on Thursday, attracts close to 50 million devotees every year.
Thursday marked the beginning of the 41-day 'Mandala' phase of the two-month-long annual pilgrimage season at Sabarimala, which will culminate with the 'mandala pooja' on December 27.
Despite COVID-19 situation, hundreds of devotees have been trekking the hills to offer prayers at the Ayyappa temple.
The facility will be available at ten locations en route to the hill shrine that opened for the 41-day Mandala Season on Monday.
Shambhu Namboothiri of Kuravakkad Illam has been selected as the chief priest of the adjoining Malikappuram Devi temple.
Basic facilities for the pilgrimage, adhering to social distancing norms, are ready at the Lord Ayyappa temple and its premises, state Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan told the state assembly.
The temple had been opened for devotees for five days last month during the monthly pujas, after remaining shut for over six months.