President Droupadi Murmu visited the Sannidhanam at Sabarimala mandir today, observing all traditional rituals. The ceremonial knot was prepared with a symbolic wash of her hands and feet at a specially arranged area in the Pampa, followed by a ritual bath. The Pampa Ganapati mandir was also carried with a Irumudi Kettu, a sacred bundle of offerings carried by devotees to Bhagwan Ayyappa as part of the customary practices. The Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and security personnel accompanying the President participated in filling the Irumudi Kettu, and proceeded to the Sannidhanam.The President ascended the hill in a Devaswom Board vehicle and reached the Sannidhanam, where she climbed the eighteenth sacred steps at 11:45 am. Typically, the special force of the Kerala Police assists devotees at this stage, but the President was guided up the eighteenth step by her accompanying security officer, holding her hand while observing the Irumudi Kettu ritual. The OSD and security officer, dressed in appropriate ceremonial attire, accompanied her throughout the ascent.
Upon reaching the eighteenth sacred steps, the President was welcomed with a poorna kumbha. She bowed to the offering, prayed with her eyes closed before the Dharmashasta (Bhagwan Ayyapa), received the Deep arti from inside the temple, and embraced Ayyappa with tears in her eyes, fulfilling the spiritual significance of her visit. The temple visit was conducted strictly according to established rituals. Following this, the President also visited Malikapuram mandir. Droupadi Murmu becomes the first sitting President to visit the Sannidhanam after V.V. Giri, marking a historic occasion five decades later.
കറുപ്പുടുത്ത് കെട്ട് നിറച്ച് മലകയറി രാഷ്ട്രപതി | President Droupadi Murmu Sabarimala Visit #droupadimurmu #sabarimala #droupadimurmusabarimalavisit pic.twitter.com/xVvoFW2TII
— News18 Kerala (@News18Kerala) October 22, 2025
The President reached Sabarimala in 15 minutes using a special vehicle. Accompanied by her bodyguards, she climbed the hill carrying the Irumudi, the traditional long braid. During the worship of Bhagwan Ayyappa, Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan remained behind her. Upon reaching Pampa, she ascended the hill, and at the foot of the flagpole, Thantri Kandar Mahesh Mohanar welcomed her with a full kumbha. After completing the darshan, the President is scheduled to have food and rest at the Devaswom Guest House, where she will remain until 3 pm. The Devaswom Board will present her with a wooden Ayyappa murti as a ceremonial gift.
Tight security measures were in place across Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilakkal. The areas including Thirumuttam, Sopanam, Pathinettampadi, Malikappuram, and the Devaswom Guest House, where the President is staying, were under the supervision of a special security team. The Irrigation Department had prepared a temporary bathing ghat at Triveni to facilitate the President’s Pampa bath before her climb. After completing the Pampa bath around 11:30 am, the President began her journey to Sannidhanam in a special vehicle under heavy security. She had arrived in the state capital the previous evening and departed from Raj Bhavan at approximately 7:30 am today to Thiruvananthapuram Airport. From there, she flew by helicopter to Pathanamthitta and left for Sabarimala earlier than scheduled. Around 9 am, the helicopter landed at Konni Pramadam Indoor Stadium, from where she proceeded to Pampa by road. She was received at the indoor stadium by Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, along with MP Anto Antony, MLAs K.U. Janeesh Kumar and Pramod Narayan, District Collector S. Prem Krishnan, and District Police Chief R. Anand.
The police force reached Sannidhanam using a Gorkha vehicle. The President is expected to return to Thiruvananthapuram by nightfall, where she will attend a dinner hosted by Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar at Hotel Hyatt Regency. In connection with the President’s visit, certain restrictions were imposed on darshan at Sabarimala to ensure smooth security arrangements.
