Sivagiri pilgrimage to begin today: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan to inaugurate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lakhs of devotees will flock to Sivagiri in the next three days to visit the Mahasamadhi and gain virtue. The Sivagiri Mahatheerthadanam will begin today, as per the directives of Gurudeva. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will inaugurate the 93rd pilgrimage at 9.30 am. Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust President Swami Sachidananda will preside. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will be the chief guest. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Minister M.B. Rajesh and others will participate. More than 50 lakh pilgrims are expected to arrive this time.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the pilgrimage conference tomorrow at 9.30 am. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be the special guest.

The Sivagiri pilgrimage has 12 conferences organized on eight topics given by the Guru. The presentations of the conferences will be based on topical issues. This year's pilgrimage is a continuation of the inauguration of the centenary of Gurudeva's Mahasamadhi by President Draupadi Murmu in October. This year's pilgrimage is being held in conjunction with the centenary of Swami Bodhananda's anointment as part of Gurudeva's molding of his disciple line, the centenary of the Gurudeva-Mahatma Gandhi Samagama, and the centenary of Swami Satyavrata attaining Samadhi.

More than 150 padyatras from different parts of Kerala, other states and abroad will reach Sivagiri. The pilgrimage season had started from December 15 to reduce the crowd of devotees during the pilgrimage which will be held on December 30, 31 and January 1.