Team News Riveting
Kochi, November 10
The Kerala government on Thursday declared the premises of Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala and its nearby areas as “liquor and drug-free zone” as the holy city gears up to host two-month-long Mandala-Makaravilakku festival started November 17.
The annual festival, which used to attract millions of devotees from and outside the country to the hill shrine, will conclude on January 15, 2023. Besides the “Sannidhanam” (temple complex), Pamba, Triveni, Marakoottam, Sabari Peedam and so on, several areas in Perinadu and Kollamula villages in Ranni taluk here were declared as the liquor and drug-free zones, an official notification issued said.
It added banning the consumption and sale of alcohol, drugs and tobacco products in these areas from November 14 to January 22, 2023. Pilgrims, vendors and people entering Sabarimala, Pamba, Nilakkal and adjoining areas should be cautious in this regard, the officials said.
The administration has put multilingual warning boards at various points informing about the prohibition of alcohol and other intoxicants. Another government notification has been issued opening temporary range offices at Sannidhanam, Nilakkal and Pamba in wake of Mandala puja.
