Global Ayyappa Sangam; Plans to bring restrictions on devotees at Sabarimala
The government and Travancore Devaswom Board are considering restrictions on devotees visiting Sabarimala on the day of the Global Ayyappa Summit. The move aims to ensure smooth darshan for representatives arriving for the historic gathering. Virtual queue slots for devotees attending the monthly pooja will be reduced to accommodate the arrangements.
A meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram today, where the proposal will be discussed. Opposition leaders may also be invited to the meeting.
The restrictions are expected to apply mainly to devotees visiting during the monthly pooja, while priority darshan will be arranged for summit delegates. The suggestion was raised during an online meeting chaired by Minister V.N. Vasavan. With the strong backing of major community organizations, both the government and the Devaswom Board are moving forward with confidence regarding the summit.
However, public entry to the Global Ayyappa Summit will come with certain conditions. Only devotees who have visited Sabarimala at least twice in the past three years and are registered through the official virtual queue portal will be eligible. Selected devotees will receive official invitation letters from the Devaswom Board President. Additionally, around 500 international delegates are expected to take part in the event.