Global Ayyappa Sangamam is aimed at elevating Sabarimala into a global pilgrimage centre, says TDB president

The Global Ayyappa Sangamam is aimed at elevating Sabarimala into a global pilgrimage centre which is welcome to everyone, regardless of caste and religion, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth has said.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that the Sangamam will also provide a platform for discussion on the future development of the hill temple, the Sabarimala airport and railway as well as provide Ayyappa devotees from across the world an opportunity to air their opinions on the government’s Sabarimala Master Plan.

The idea of a global meet was put forward by Ayyappa devotees from Malaysia and Singapore as a platform to share the difficulties faced by foreign visitors to Sabarimala and to present their views on the development of Sabarimala. The Devaswom Board informed the Devaswom Minister and the government, who extended their support for the idea.

He said that it was natural that criticism would be raised against the Sangamam from some quarters. The event is being held in a manner that is free from politics and with the participation of Ayyappa devotees and people’s representatives.

“The Sangamam is receiving great support from various quarters. Organisations, including the Nair Service Society (NSS), Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS) and Malayaraya Mahasabha have extended their support. However, some people have attempted to tarnish the initiative by creating a smokescreen of baseless allegations,” said Mr. Prasanth.

Three thousand specially invited people, who are regular visitors to Sabarimala and are interested in the development of Sabarimala as well as people’s representatives, will participate in the Sangam. As many as 800 invitees from Kerala, 500 from Tamil Nadu, 250 from Karnataka, 750 from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 200 from other States and 500 from abroad will participate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conference.

Chief Ministers of South Indian states, Goa and Maharashtra and Devaswom Ministers from other States have been invited to the meet. Registration is being done through the Sabarimala virtual queue portal.

Only those who have registered will be allowed to participate in the gathering.

In response to a query, he said that the board will try to inform the Supreme Court about the rituals related to Sabarimala after consulting with legal experts, although he did not specify whether this would mean a change in its earlier stand favouring the entry of women of all ages to the temple.

The Devaswom Board’s stance is that the rituals and practices at Sabarimala should be fully protected, he said.

Meanwhile, Swami Subhangananda, General Secretary of Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust, also extended his support on Monday to the Ayyappa Sangamam, saying that the trust would support all activities taken up by the government aimed at spiritual upliftment.

United Democratic Front (UDF) convener Adoor Prakash said that the State government is attempting to benefit from majority communalism by organising the Sangmamam. The UDF will take a call on whether to participate in the Sangamam at a meeting on Tuesday.

Senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan alleged that non-believers are at the forefront of organising the Sangamam with an eye on the upcoming elections.