TDB to permit motorcade of President to reach Sabarimala Sannidhanam

Deviating from the centuries-old practice of letting pilgrims reach Sannidhanam from Pamba either by foot or in dollies (palanquins), the Travancore Devaswom Board will let in the motorcade of President Droupadi Murmu to the hill shrine for her to offer prayers.

It’s the first time that a motorcade will be allowed to take pilgrims to Sannidhanam from Pamba. A four-wheel drive Ghurka emergency vehicle, along with a motorcade of six vehicles, will take Ms. Murmu and her group through 4.5 km Swamy Ayyappan Road and a traditional trekking route. The President and five members of her group will be escorted by the Special Protection Group members during her pilgrimage.

The first President of India to visit the temple was V. V. Giri.

“Giri was taken to the hill shrine in the early 1970s in a Dolly. This time, the President will reach the hill shrine in a special vehicle. Besides the special vehicles, an ambulance will also be there in the motorcade. The administrative decision to let the vehicles in was taken by the Board. The decision was also conveyed to the Kerala High Court. Permitting the vehicles from Pamba to Sannidhanam does not violate any temple customs or practices,” said P. S. Prasanth, the president of the Board.

Incidentally, the three ambulances owned by the Board and the State Forest Department and the tractors are the only motor vehicles that are permitted to operate along the narrow road stretch. The ambulances are reserved exclusively for attending to medical emergencies, while the tractors are deployed for transporting goods.

The Kerala High Court had recently slammed ADGP M. R. Ajith Kumar for violating its order banning the transportation of pilgrims, Devaswom officials, police personnel, and others in tractors meant for goods transport to Sannidhanam.

“The President and her team members will strictly follow the temple customs and rituals. They will carry the Irumudi, which contains coconut, rice and puffed rice. She will break coconuts at the 18^th holy step of the temple and offer her prayers. Her office is in constant touch with the Executive Officer of the Board and Chief Priest of the Temple regarding the temple practices and rituals, said Mr. Prasanth.

Incidentally, Sabarimala had been witnessing protests for protecting the temple customs and rituals for the past few years.