Latest news with #TravancoreDevaswomBoard
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TDP dissolves temple panel after RSS song, flag controversy during festival
KOLLAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has dissolved the advisory committee of the Manjippuzha Sree Bhagavathy Bhadrakali Temple following a controversy surrounding the performance of an RSS prayer song and the hoisting of political flags during the temple's annual festival. The decision came after an internal inquiry confirmed that the RSS Gana Geetham was sung during a music programme held in April as part of the festival. The concert was sponsored by Team Chhatrapati, a local group. Additionally, investigations revealed that the flags of the Bajrang Dal and RSS were hoisted within the premises of the Kottukkal Bhagavathy Bhadrakali Temple, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Manjippuzha Devaswom. According to the inquiry report, flagpoles were installed with the knowledge of certain committee members and temple staff. The TDB cited serious lapses by the advisory committee in both instances as grounds for its dissolution.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Nilackal to get speciality hospital to treat Sabarimala devotees, local populace
The long-pending demand for the establishment of a speciality hospital at Nilackal, a region that serves as the base camp to lakhs of pilgrims ascending the Sabarimala hillock during the annual pilgrimage season, is finally becoming a reality. According to Health Minister Veena George, a speciality hospital with advanced medical infrastructure will be established at Nilackal to benefit both local residents and Sabarimala pilgrims. The facility with an estimated cost of ₹9 crore will come up on land allotted by the Travancore Devaswom Board. The Chief Minister has instructed that additional funds be released towards the project based on requirement. The hospital will integrate modern medicine with Ayush, and during the pilgrimage season enhanced speciality care will be provided to meet the increased demand, the Minister said. Besides the devotees, it will also serve the local populace, especially the tribal community settled in and around the hilly region. The three-storey facility, the work on which will be completed at the earliest, will feature a 12-bed casualty unit, outpatient departments, a 7-bed observation ward and pharmacy etc on the ground floor. The first floor will host an intensive care unit (ICU) with eight beds, nurses' station, a fully equipped minor operation theatre, a 13-bed inpatient ward and administrative offices. The second floor, meanwhile, will accommodate a 50-bed dormitory facility to accommodate pilgrims and attendants. Presently, the Health department opens special wards at the Government Medical Colleges at Kottayam and Konni to take care of Sabarimala devotees requiring specialised treatment. It also operates temporary unis all across the pilgrimage circuit through out the season to handle medical emergencies.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC extends tenure of TDB Devaswom Commissioner
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday extended till May 31 the tenure of C.V. Prakash as Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The Bench led by Justice Anil K. Narendran passed the order, taking note of the fact that the process for preparing a panel of candidates for the post is in progress. C.V. Prakash, Additional Secretary, Home Department was appointed on deputation as Devaswom Commissioner till May 18 on the basis of the High Court order. The Devaswom Commissioner also doubles as member secretary, High Power Committee for Implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TDB awaits confirmation of President's visit
Amid media reports that President Droupadi Murmu will visit Sabarimala on May 19 as previously scheduled, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is awaiting official confirmation before initiating arrangements. 'As of now, what we know is that the President is not visiting,' said a TDB official, while acknowledging that they had received a message late Monday suggesting that the visit to the hill shrine might still be on. 'Based on that information, we convened a meeting on Tuesday morning but there is still no clarity. If the confirmation comes through, we will proceed with the necessary arrangements as directed by the security agencies,' the official added. The President had earlier planned to visit Sabarimala on May 19 to offer prayers during the Idavam monthly poojas. In anticipation, the TDB and the State government had begun preparations, including infrastructure development around the Nilakkal helipad and road improvements. However, once it was communicated that the visit had been cancelled, all related activities were put on hold. The TDB had initially suspended virtual queue bookings for May 18 and 19 in view of the proposed visit. However, it later lifted the restrictions and resumed bookings for those dates. The temple is slated to open for the five-days long monthly poojas on Wednesday and will close down on May 19 night. The last visit by a sitting President to Sabarimala was on April 10, 1973, when President V.V. Giri made his way to the hill shrine. The visit was notable not only for its ceremonial significance but also for the tangible developments that followed. Mr. Giri had previously visited Sabarimala in 1962 during his tenure as Governor of Kerala, accompanied by his wife, Saraswati Giri. Acting on Giri's intervention, additional forest land was sanctioned for the expansion of Sabarimala, leading to major infrastructure projects. The route he travelled from Chalakayam to Pampa was later developed into the Chalakayam-Pampa Road, which serves as a vital artery for devotees.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sabarimala: TDB lifts curbs on virtual queues for Edavam puja
Kottayam: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Friday lifted the restrictions imposed on booking virtual queues for the Edavam month puja in Sabarimala. The restrictions were earlier imposed on May 18 and 19. This was in the wake of President Droupadi Murmu's proposed visit to the hill shrine, said TDB president PS Prashanth. "The state protocol officer was informed about the cancellation of the visit, following which we lifted the ban on the virtual queue booking on those days. Now the devotees can book through the virtual queue system and have darshan on these days," he said.
