Global Ayyappa Summit: Six Union Ministers to be invited

PATHANAMTHITTA: Six Union Ministers will be invited to the Global Ayyappa Summit that will be held on September 20 at Pampa in Sabarimala. With Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin withdrawing from attending the summit, the authorities are planning to invite Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan as the chief guest.

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Piyush Goyal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, will be invited. Religious and community organisations, as well as the Malaya and Araya communities associated with Sabarimala, will also be invited. Registration for those attending the summit can be done alongside the virtual queue booking for darshan next month. Accommodation for 500 delegates will be arranged across Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts.

Idea proposed by a Malaysian devotee

The concept of a global summit was first suggested by a Malaysian devotee who visits Sabarimala every year. He shared the idea with Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prasanth, highlighting the need for a gathering of Ayyappa devotees from across the world. Prasanth then discussed the proposal with Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan and, after receiving approval from the Chief Minister, decided to organize the summit. The main agenda of the event will focus on discussions regarding the Sabarimala Master Plan.

Four sessions

1. Inaugural session
2. Discussion on the Master Plan and seeking sponsors
3. Transportation issues
4. Spiritual and cultural conferences

“The summit will be conducted while fully respecting Sabarimala’s traditions and rituals. Religious and community organisations will be invited. The event is being organised with the support of the state government,” said P.S. Prasanth, President of Travancore Devaswom Board.