Droupadi Murmu All Set To Become First President To Visit Kerala's Sabarimala Temple

President Droupadi Murmu is all set visit Kerala's Sabarimala temple on May 19. This will make Murmu the first sitting President of India to offer prayers at the renowned Ayyappa shrine situated in Pathanamthitta district.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which oversees the temple's management, confirmed her planned visit, describing it as a milestone moment for both nation and the temple.

Photo Credit: PTI

The President's tour forms part of a two-day visit to Kerala. She is due to attend a private event in the Kottayam district upon her arrival on May 18.

On the following morning, she will travel to the Nilakkal helipad near the temple and proceed to the Pampa base camp. From there, Murmu will either undertake the traditional 4.25-kilometre uphill trek or be driven via a steep emergency road to the hilltop temple.

The final decision on the mode of ascent will be taken by the Special Protection Group (SPG), which is in charge of her security arrangements.

"This marks the first time a sitting President has chosen to visit the Sabarimala shrine. The SPG will decide whether she walks or is driven. We will comply with their instructions," said PS Prasanth, President of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Prasanth noted that while the official itinerary is still awaited, preparations have been in progress for several weeks.

"The possibility of her visit has been circulating for the past two to three weeks. Now that it's confirmed, we've expedited road repairs and related construction work. Once formal communication is received, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will convene a review meeting. This is undoubtedly a historic occasion," he added.

President Murmu's visit will coincide with the conclusion of the poojas associated with the Malayalam month of Edavam. The temple, which opened on 14 May for monthly rituals, typically attracts large numbers of devotees.

However, authorities have imposed restrictions for May 18 and 19. Public darshan will be suspended, and the virtual queue ticket system has been halted to facilitate security arrangements.

Situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, Sabarimala is among South India's most venerated pilgrimage destinations. Access traditionally involves a 41-day period of penance, followed by a barefoot pilgrimage from the banks of the Pampa River. Devotees carry an "Irumudi"-a sacred offering bundle essential for ascending the temple's iconic 18 holy steps to reach the sanctum sanctorum.

Prasanth also indicated that the President may prepare her "Irumudi" at the Pampa base camp, although further details are awaited from the President's office.

"She will be the first President to ever offer prayers here. It is truly a proud moment," Prasanth remarked.

The last prominent political figure to visit the Sabarimala shrine was VV Giri, who made the pilgrimage during his tenure as Kerala's Governor in the early 1960s, prior to becoming President in 1969. Murmu's visit thus represents a rare and symbolically significant event in the temple's long and storied history.