A protest Namajapa Yatra was organised at Erumeli by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, along with various Hindu community organisations, to stand against the hardships faced by Ayyappa devotees during the Sabarimala season pilgrimage on November 10. Swami Sadswaroopananda Saraswati, State Secretary of the Marg Darshak Mandal, inaugurated the Yatra. In his address, Swami stated that what people need is not a government that imposes one hardship after another on devotees, but a government that serves its people. Hundreds of devotees joined the Yatra, and K.P. Sasikala Teacher, Chief Patron of the Hindu Aikyavedi, delivered the keynote speech.
Sasikala Teacher stated that no one is authorised to exploit Ayyappa devotees in the name of religious harmony. Parking operators or shopkeepers have no right to set prices for Pooja materials; this should be done by Hindu society and the Tiruvitamcoor (Travancore) Devaswom Board. The Sabarimala Karma Samiti demanded the standardisation of rates for washrooms, parking, Pooja materials, and basic facilities for devotees. They warned of strong protests if these demands are not met.
Hindu organisations have been demanding the provision of basic amenities for Ayyappa devotees for several years. However, both the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (the current ruling Front) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (the current opposition Front) are “birds of a feather” in their mistreatment of devotees.
The Tiruvitamcoor Devaswom Board has still not clarified the virtual queue limit, leaving it uncertain whether 70,000 or 80,000 devotees will be allowed per day. Uncertainty also persists regarding spot booking, which is likely to cause problems for the lakhs of devotees travelling from remote villages in southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Every year, the hostility of the Communist government towards Sabarimala devotees and traditions becomes evident during the pilgrimage season. In 2018, the government attempted to bring in women who fall within the traditionally restricted age group of 10 to 50, despite the shrine’s longstanding customs.
It is widely believed that the Communist-led LDF and Congress-led UDF have little interest in promoting Hindu religious festivals or pilgrimages in the state. This lack of interest appears rooted in their attempts to appease minority communities, ensuring a steady vote bank, or due to an ideological distance from Hindu customs and traditions. This attitude is not new; for decades, both fronts have shown an inclination to collect substantial revenue from Hindu temples while showing little concern for using these funds to benefit pilgrims or support dharmic activities.
Each year, the demands for better facilities and respect for Hindu traditions grow louder, yet the political establishment remains indifferent, as if deaf and dumb to the voices of Hindu devotees. The neglect displayed by the LDF and UDF only strengthens the perception that these parties are content to profit from temple revenue while ignoring the fundamental needs of Hindu pilgrims and the preservation of sacred traditions.
