Pamba slowly getting ready for Global Ayyappa Sangamam

PAMBA: Preparations are ongoing in Pamba for the global Ayyappa Sangam. The construction of the main pandal (tent), which is 30,000 square feet in area, using German technology, began on Thursday in the flood-damaged Ramamurthy Mandapam area. The inaugural session will be held here and will have a seating capacity of 3,000. A special lounge, conference hall, dining hall, restrooms, and exhibition hall will be built separately to receive VIPs. The floor is being prepared by laying plywood. Heat-insulating sheets will be spread on top. The roof will be raised using a crane on Friday and Saturday. All the pandals have air conditioning systems.

The contract for the pandal has been given to an agency based in Ernakulam. The pandal is being built by 14 workers.

Representatives from abroad are also arriving for the global Ayyappa Sangam to be held on the 20th of this month. Arrangements are being made in such a way as to resemble an international-level conference. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event.

The permanent pavilions under construction in Pamba will be completed on the 15th of this month, ahead of the Ayyappa Sangam. Six pavilions were built before the last pilgrimage season. Repairs to the tree-lined walkways and stone steps are in progress. Repairs to the Pamba Ganapathi temple and its surroundings will begin tomorrow.

Work is also ongoing in renovating the PWD guesthouse and the toilets in the area. The Chalakkayam -Pamba road under the Devaswom Board is in disrepair. Danger warning boards have been installed on the road, where the tarmac has cracked and large craters have formed. There are allegations that the construction is slow. The renovation of the Elavunkal- Chalakkayam road has begun.