Droupadi Murmu set to become first Indian President to visit Sabarimala temple
President Droupadi Murmu is set to make history on May 19 by becoming the first sitting President of India to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the shrine, confirmed her upcoming visit, calling it a landmark moment for the temple and the nation.The President's visit to the holy shrine is part of her two-day visit to Kerala. She is scheduled to attend a private function in Kottayam district, after she arrives in Kerala on May 18. The following morning, she will travel to the Nilakkal helipad near the temple and proceed to the Pampa base camp — either to trek the 4.25-km uphill path like traditional pilgrims or be driven along a steep emergency road to the hilltop shrine. The final decision on her mode of travel will be taken by the Special Protection Group (SPG), which is overseeing the security arrangements.advertisement'This is the first time a President has decided to visit the Sabarimala shrine. The SPG will decide whether she will trek or be driven up the hill. We will abide by their direction,' said PS Prasanth, president of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Prasanth revealed that while the official programme is still awaited, preparations have been underway for the past few weeks. 'The visit has been in the air for two to three weeks. Now that it's certain, we have begun urgent road repair and construction work. Once official confirmation comes, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will call for a stock-taking meeting. This is going to be a historic visit,' he added.Murmu's visit will coincide with the conclusion of poojas marking the Malayalam month of Edavam. The temple, which opened on May 14 for the monthly rituals, typically sees large pilgrim footfall, but authorities have announced restrictions for May 18 and 19. Devotees will not be allowed darshan on those days, and virtual queue ticket services have been suspended to ensure security during the President's visit.advertisementLocated at an altitude of 3,000 feet in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, Sabarimala is one of South India's most revered pilgrimage sites. Traditionally, access to the temple involves a 41-day penance period followed by a barefoot trek from the Pampa River. Pilgrims carry an Irumudi — a sacred prayer kit essential for ascending the temple's 18 holy steps to reach the sanctum.Prasanth indicated that the President is also expected to prepare the Irumudi at the Pampa base camp, though further details await confirmation from the President's office.'She will be the first President to ever offer prayers here. It is indeed a moment of pride,' said Prasanth.The last high-profile visit to Sabarimala by a statesman was that of VV Giri, who visited the shrine during his tenure as Kerala Governor in the early 1960s, before becoming the President in 1969. Murmu's visit, therefore, marks a rare and symbolically significant occasion in the temple's history.Trending Reel
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