May the fame of Sabarimala spread further

Lakhs of Ayyappa devotees from different parts of the country come to Sabarimala during Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku to offer prayers. The number of people who come during Vishu, Onam, the first week of every Malayalam month and other special days is in addition to this. Sabarimala plays an important role in making Kerala worthy of the title of God's Own Country. The Sabarimala pilgrimage provides a golden opportunity for income not only for the Devaswom Board but also for thousands of people who depend on the pilgrimage for their livelihood. An important event regarding Sabarimala is going to take place in September. Minister V.N. Vasavan had revealed in a press conference the other day that a global Ayyappa Sangam will be organised in Pampa in the third week of September with the participation of Ayyappa devotees from all over the world.

This gathering is being organised jointly by the Kerala government and the Travancore Devaswom Board. The main objective of the gathering is to spread throughout the world the message of universal humanity, 'Tatvamasi', which is the hallmark of the Sabarimala temple. The minister had also mentioned that another objective is to present Sabarimala as a divine, traditional, sustainable global pilgrimage centre. Representatives of about 3,000 Ayyappa devotees from various states will participate in the gathering. The gathering will be held between September 16 and 21. The date will be announced later. The representatives can arrive the day before and have darshan, and then participate in the gathering. A spacious pandal will be constructed in Pampa for this purpose. The devotees participating in the gathering will have the opportunity to share their current difficulties and put forward suggestions. Development projects can also be presented.

For this global Ayyappa Sangam, the Chief Minister will be the chief patron, and the ministers will be the patrons. In addition, a welcoming committee comprising public representatives and officials will be formed. The Sangam, which aims to develop Sabarimala and make it famous globally, will be a model in this regard. The activities of Minister VN Vasavan have been instrumental in the fact that the last pilgrimage season passed without any significant complaints or allegations. The announcement by Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyaz that the Public Works Department has formed a special core team to coordinate the activities ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrimage gives good hope. The work of each district will be assessed by the chief engineers. Special inspection teams have also been formed for the districts. It has also been decided to conduct safety inspections on dangerous roads.

Signboards should be ensured in various languages. Forests on both sides of the roads should be cleared and facilities should be provided for pedestrians. Street lights and drainage should be ensured to be efficient. Adequate facilities should be provided in rest houses. Handrails of bridges should be maintained. It has also been decided that the work of bridges under construction should be completed as soon as possible. Technical approvals and tender procedures should be completed in a timely manner. It has also been decided to make all roads passable even before the pilgrimage season. This is the most comforting thing for Sabarimala pilgrims. Such preparations in advance of the pilgrimage are certainly commendable. These are happy decisions for Ayyappa devotees.