President Droupadi Murmu created history on Wednesday by becoming the first woman President of India to offer prayers at the sacred Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala. This momentous visit to the famed hill shrine unfolded with meticulous planning and traditional rituals.
Her Excellency arrived by special helicopter at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium Ground in Pramadom around 8:40 AM, where she received a ceremonial welcome from a delegation of dignitaries. This included Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, MP Anto Antony, and other local officials. Following the reception, she proceeded to Pampa via a specially arranged motorcade, where extensive security and traditional protocols were meticulously executed for her pilgrimage.
In Pampa, President Murmu gracefully commenced her pilgrimage with the traditional purification ritual, washing her feet in the holy Pampa river, just as Ayyappa devotees do. She then visited the Pampa Ganapathi temple, where the sacred “Irumudi kettu” (the twin bundle carried by pilgrims) was meticulously prepared for her under the guidance of Melshanthi Vishnu Namboothiri. Her ADC, Saurabh S. Nair, PSO Vinay Mathur, and son-in-law, Ganesh Chandra Hombrom, also took part in this revered ritual, adhering to the customs observed by all pilgrims before their arduous journey to the Sannidhanam. Subsequently, the President and her entourage were transported in a special convoy to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
During her visit, the entire hill temple complex and its vicinity were placed under an extraordinary security blanket. For the duration of her pilgrimage, other devotees’ movements were restricted beyond the Nilakkal base camp to ensure her safety and smooth passage.
Arriving at Sabarimala around 11:45 AM, the President ascended the revered Pathinettam Padi (18 sacred steps) to reach the sanctum sanctorum. There, she was honored with a traditional ‘purna kumbh’ reception by Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru. President Murmu reverently offered her prayers to Lord Ayyappa and the accompanying sub-deities (upadevatas), concluding her visit with prayers at the Malikappuram Devi temple and the Vavar Swami shrine.
Dignitaries including Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prashanth, Revenue and Devaswom Secretary M.G. Rajamanickam, and Sabarimala Melshanthi S. Arunkumar Namboothiri were present to welcome the President at the temple.
After her Darshan, Minister V.N. Vasavan, on behalf of the Travancore Devaswom Board, presented the President with a beautiful wooden carving of Lord Ayyappa, a customary memento. Board members A. Ajikumar and P.D. Santhosh Kumar also attended the presentation.
Following a light lunch and a short rest at the Devaswom Guest House, President Murmu commenced her return journey, departing from the Sannidhanam for Pampa around 12:15 PM.
At approximately 4:15 PM, President Murmu departed from the Pramadom helipad, heading towards Thiruvananthapuram. She was bid farewell by Minister Vasavan, MP Anto Antony, and other officials.
Minor Incident with Presidential Helicopter
Earlier in the day, the presidential helicopter safely landed at the newly constructed helipad in Pramadom around 8:30 AM. However, immediately after the President disembarked, the chopper’s tires sank slightly into the freshly poured concrete. Despite this minor mishap, President Murmu’s journey to Pampa continued smoothly by road, without any significant delay.
Official reports indicate that the helipad at the Pramadom Indoor Stadium had been finalized just hours before the President’s arrival. The original landing site was planned for Nilackal, but the location was changed at the last minute due to unfavorable weather. The temporarily stuck helicopter was later moved from the soft concrete by police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel.