Sabarimala May 2025: Edavam Maasa Pooja Dates, President’s Visit, and KSRTC Concerns

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The Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple located in Pathanamthitta District,Kerala, will open for the Edavam Maasa Pooja from May 14 at 4:00 PM to May 19 at 10:00 PM, 2025. 

Monthly pooja Timings :Here

Calendar :Here

President Droupadi Murmu’s Visit on May 19: Media reports about President Murmu’s historic visit to Sabarimala on May 19 remain unclear. Initial media reports highlighted her historic visit as the first sitting President to pray at the temple, but some sources suggest a postponement due to India-Pakistan border tensions, with virtual queue bookings briefly reopened. However, the temple’s official website shows May 18-19 bookings blocked, citing the President’s visit. The TDB has not clarified, so devotees should monitor official updates for booking and darshan details.

KSRTC Bus Service Disruption and High Court Response: The Kerala High Court, on May 13, 2025, sought instructions from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) regarding a report by the Sabarimala special commissioner. The report detailed the abrupt halt of the Nilakkal-Pamba chain bus service on April 16, 2025, during the Meda Maasa Puja, without prior notice to higher authorities, police, or the special commissioner. The suspension, attributed to a diesel shortage at the Nilakkal petrol pump, began at 7:00 PM and significantly disrupted devotees’ travel. A bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and M B Snehalatha directed KSRTC’s counsel to provide clarifications, adjourning the matter to May 20, 2025. The report urged the court to ensure prompt communication with officials and adequate fuel supply at TDB-owned petrol pumps at Nilakkal and Pamba to prevent future disruptions.

Additional Concerns Raised in the Report:

Road Safety: The special commissioner referenced a fatal accident on April 16 at Kanamala, where one devotee died and 27 were injured, recommending the deployment of Safe Zone initiative teams during monthly pujas to manage rising vehicle and pilgrim traffic.

Food Safety: On April 12,2025, 13 devotees were hospitalized for suspected food poisoning after eating at Stall No. 88 (Coffee Land Hotel) at Pamba. The stall was temporarily closed and reopened after inspection.

Currency Notes Issue: The special commissioner refuted reports claims of currency notes being destroyed in a fire, calling them false and possibly fabricated by staff. It noted 14 sacks of damaged notes, foreign coins, lamps, and bells dumped in the temple’s old and new bhandarams.

Appam and Aravana Quality: Recent tests showed deviations in the moisture content of Appam and Aravana due to a boiler defect. The executive officer was directed to address this urgently to maintain permissible moisture levels.