The president of India, Draupadi Murmu, became the first head of state to visit the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Sabrimala. She is the second Indian president to go to the shrine after former president V V Giri, who paid a visit in the 1970s.
This visit is important as it marks an important milestone after the 2018 Supreme Court judgement, where the court overturned the ban on the entry of women between the age group of 10-50 from entering the temple. The traditional practice upheld that women of menstruating age would not be allowed to enter the temple premises; the custom was severely criticised across spheres.
It is believed that Lord Ayyapan, the main deity worshipped in the temple, is an eternal celibate. The president’s visit is being marked with respect and dignity on the internet.
BJP’s Bandi Sanjay Kumar took to his X handle, as he explained that the visit by President Murmu is not violative of any custom as she is 67, and with her historic visit, she became the first female president to take the Irumudi and bow before the shrine of Lord Ayyapan. Praising the step, the MP also wrote that devotion always wins. He further says, “those 18 steps have seen debate and defiance, yet devotion always finds its dignity.”
President Murmu reached the Pamba base camp at 11 am, and as per the tradition, first washed her feet in the river Pampa and worshipped the Lord Ganpathy shrine. She wore a black saree, symbolising the local tradition, and thereafter participated in the ‘Kettunira’ ceremony where the head priest (melshanthi) prepared the sacred ‘irumudikettu’, which the devotees visiting Sabrimala are supposed to carry to the shrine of the main deity.
After completing the rituals near the river Pamba, the President and her team took the Swami Ayyappan road that led to the main complex at Sannidhanam. At the shrine, she was received by the head priest of the temple, Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru. The state’s Devaswom minister, VN Vasavan, was also present at the temple to welcome the president. The darshan was completed as the honourable president climbed the 18 steps of the temple complex carrying the sacred bundle on her head.
The temple was part of the President’s four-day visit to the Southern state of Kerala.
