This story is from June 9, 2020

Kerala: No darshan for now at Padma temple; TDB temples to open

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will remain closed for devotees till June 30. Earlier the temple authorities had planned to reopen the temple from Tuesday. The decision was reviewed and amended on Monday.
Kerala: No darshan for now at Padma temple; TDB temples to open
Fire and rescue officials sanitising Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple premises at Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will remain closed for devotees till June 30. Earlier the temple authorities had planned to reopen the temple from Tuesday. The decision was reviewed and amended on Monday.
Travancore Devaswom Board decided to go ahead with the opening of temples under its jurisdiction on Tuesday. Sree Dharma Sastha temple at Sabarimala will be opened for devotees for Mithunam month pooja on June 14.

Since March 21, Padmanabhaswamy temple restricted entry for public. It was proposed to reopen the temple for devotees with restricted darshan timings taking Covid-19 precautions.
V Ratheesan, executive officer, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, said that the administrative committee decided against the reopening of the temple for devotees, due to continuing Covid-19 crisis.
“There was demand from devotees and other stakeholders in the administrative committee that the temple should remain closed for devotees due to rise in Covid-19 cases. The temple entry for devotees is closed till June 30 and decision regarding entry to devotees will be taken in the next administrative committee meeting based on the Covid situation. The reason for the decision is that in case the priest gets infected, then the temple will have to be closed,” said Ratheesan.

As per the earlier decision, the temple authorities had completed all arrangements for devotees’ visits. Around 100 devotees had registered for darshan, when online reservation for entry was started from Monday morning.
“The disinfection work is an on-going process at the temple. We bought disinfection and fogging machines and had given purchase orders for other equipment. It will be used when the temple reopens for devotees,” said Ratheesan.
Thiruvambady, Paramekkavu temples to remain closed
The managing committees of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms have decided not to allow devotees into the temple for the time being. The Thiruvambady Devaswom authorities said they would be keeping a close watch on the Covid-19 developments for 15 days, and would take call on admitting the devotees to the temple.
The authorities of the famous Palayur Marthoma Pilgrim Centre have also decided not to hold any holy mass at the church till June 27.
NSS chief cautions against visiting temples
NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair has cautioned against visitng temples in the prevailing situation. Speaking to TOI on Monday, Nair said that his view is pertained to the temples belonging to the NSS only. There are hundreds of temples belonging to the NSS in the state.
“It is better not to give permission to devotees for visiting temples until worship of god is possible according to the customs and rituals we have been following,” he said.
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