Sabarimala temple to remain closed for devotees this month: Kerala govt

The government had last week allowed reopening of temples and other places of worship for devotees from Tuesday, over 75 days after they remained out of bounds for them since March 24

In a U-turn, the Kerala government on Thursday decided not to allow devotees into the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala when it opens for the monthly 'pujas' from June 14 after its high priest opposed permitting the public citing rise in Covid-19 cases, said a report by the news agency Press Trust of India.

Announcing the decision after a meeting attended among others by the priest, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran also said a 10-day festival planned to be held from June 19 at Sabarimala has been postponed for the second time.

It was to have been held