VARKALA: The 88th Sivagiri pilgrimage started here with mantras. Sreenarayana Dharmasangham Trust President Swami Vishudhananda hoisted the Dharma flag yesterday morning after special poojas at Sarada Math and Maha Samadhi. The Dharma flag was brought from Kottayam Nagampadam temple where Gurudeva had given permission for the pilgrimage. The coir to host the flag was brought from Cherthala, Kalavankodam in front of Sakthishwara Temple.

Sivagiri Math Tantri Sreenarayana Prasad performed the flag pooja. Dharmasangham Trust General Secretary Swami Sandrananda, Swami Vishalananda, Swami Brahmaswarupananda, Swami Asanga Chaitanya, Swami Guruprakash, Swami Govindananda, Brahmacharis of Sivagiri Math, V Joy MLA and Varkala Municipal Corporation Chairman KM Laji were also present.

Due to Covid restrictions, admission is limited to 1,000 people who have obtained prior permission.

The flag hoisting was followed by an industry conference as part of the virtual pilgrimage. There was also a children’s meeting in the afternoon. The ceremony was telecast live on the YouTube channel Sivagiri TV.

Vishwamangala prayers will be held at the Mahasamadhi today at 8 am. In front of the Mahasamadhi Mandir, the monks, celibates and inmates of Sivagiri Math gather together to offer prayers by reciting the 'Daivadashakam'. This can also be seen live on Sivagiri TV. The Dharmasangham Trust officials requested the Guru devotees to stand where they are at this time and repeat Daivadashakam. After the prayers, Swami Vishudhananda will deliver the pilgrimage message.

The theme of the conference is 'Primary Education and Personality' which will be held at 9 am. Dr. Achuth Shankar, Director of Department of Bioinformatics, Karyavattom University Campus; Technical University Vice-Chancellor Dr Rajasri MS, Media Design Academy Advisory Panel member Artist Jinan, Subrahmanya Idupaduthaya (Kannada), MG University VC Sheena Shukkoor, Kollam Sub-Collector Shikha Surendran and Prof. Narayan Shankar Gadade (Hindi and Marathi) of the University of Mumbai will address the gathering.

Santosh George Kulangara (Safari TV), Sreeja (Mathrubhumi News), John Brittas (Kairali TV), Johnny Lucas (Manorama News), Josy Joseph, NP Ullekh and Sankar Himagiri (Kerala Kaumudi) will speak at the press conference at 2.30 pm. Swami Shivaswarupananda will deliver the welcome speech.