Thiruvananthapuram: President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a spiritual journey to the Sabarimala temple today for a special darshan of Lord Ayyappa. The President will depart from Raj Bhavan in the morning and travel aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter, which is scheduled to land at Perunad helipad at 9:05 AM — a deviation from the usual Nilakkal landing point. From there, she will continue her journey by road to Pamba, and then proceed in a special vehicle to the Sannidhanam, the sacred hilltop shrine.
In a rare and symbolic gesture, President Murmu will carry the Irumudikettu — the sacred twin bundle of offerings — and climb the holy eighteen steps (Pathinettampadi) to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa. She is expected to arrive at the Sannidhanam by 11:50 AM, where she will be ceremonially received with Poorna Kumbham by Thantri Kandar Mahesh Mohanar at the temple’s Kodimaram (flagstaff area).
As a mark of honor, the Travancore Devaswom Board will present the President with a beautifully carved idol of Lord Ayyappa made from areca sheath. Following the darshan, she will rest briefly at the Sannidhanam guest house around 12:20 PM, before returning to Thiruvananthapuram in the evening to attend a dinner hosted by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at Raj Bhavan.
Owing to the high-profile visit, strict security and access restrictions have been implemented for pilgrims. Devotees will not be allowed to proceed beyond Nilakkal until the President concludes her visit. Heavy police deployment and security inspections have been carried out across Nilakkal, Pamba, and Sannidhanam to ensure safety.
President Murmu’s Kerala visit also includes several important public engagements. On Thursday at 10:00 AM, she will unveil the statue of former President K. R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan. Later, at 12:20 PM, she will attend the centenary celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru’s Mahasamadhi at Sivagiri, and at 4:15 PM, she will inaugurate the concluding ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of St. Thomas College, Pala.
On Friday at 12:10 PM, the President will grace the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, before departing from Kochi to New Delhi, marking the conclusion of her three-day visit to Kerala.
