Kochi: President Droupadi Murmu will make a pilgrimage to Sabarimala on May 19 to become the first President to visit the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Keraka’s Pathanamthitta district, media reports said.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) described the President’s visit as a landmark moment.
The President will visit the holy shrine, 3000 feet above sea level, during her two-day visit to Kerala where she will attend a private function in Kottayam district.
She will arrive on May 18 and travel to the Nilakkal helipad near the temple and proceed to the Pampa base camp.
The decision whether to trek the 4.25-km uphill path on foot or through another mode will be decided by the Special Protection Group (SPG), overseeing the security arrangements, Prashanth said.
“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.
The President’s visit will coincide with the conclusion of poojas marking the Malayalam month of Edavam. The temple, which will open on May 14 for the monthly rituals, will have restrictions on May 18 and 19 when
devotees will not be allowed to have darshan.
Those visiting the temple for the first time follow a 41-day penance period followed by a barefoot trek from the Pampa River.
A total number of 32,49,756 pilgrims visited the shrine during 2024-25.
Photo: X
