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Sabarimala, Oct 18 (IANS) President Draupadi Murmu will become the second person in the country to offer prayers at the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala on October 22 (Wednesday), Travancore Devaswom Board Chairman PS Prashanth said.
Prashant said that the President will reach the state capital on October 21 and from there she will board a helicopter to Nilakkal the next day.
“From Neelakkal, she will reach the foothills of the temple town of Pamba by road. She will then complete the rituals performed by all Ayyappa devotees at the Ganapathy temple in Pamba and then proceed to the temple,” Prashanth said.
However, he was not clear on whether the President would reach the hilltop temple by road or travel in a jeep.
Prashant said, “There are very strict protocols and it is being taken care of by the NSG, but she will follow all the rituals of the temple and that is also taken care of by the NSG.”
Prashant said, “The President will complete her darshan by 5 pm and return. The temple will be open for all devotees on October 21 and 22.”
Incidentally, Murmu’s temple visit was earlier scheduled to take place in May this year, but following the Operation Sindhur activity, the visit was cancelled.
Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level, the famous Sabarimala temple is a four-kilometre climb from Pamba in Pathanamthitta district, about 100 km from the Kerala capital.
Girls and women between the age of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the hilltop temple.
This temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa can be reached on foot from the Pamba River.
Incidentally, Murmu’s visit comes at a time when the SIT appointed by the Kerala High Court is probing the alleged theft of gold plates used to cover the entry into the sanctum sanctorum of the famous temple.
One person has already been arrested, and nine others have been named in two FIRs filed by the SIT.
–IANS
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