The Kerala High Court on Thursday gave the green signal for the conduct of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam on the banks of the Pampa River with stringent conditions to safeguard the sanctity of Sabarimala and the rights of ordinary devotees.
While granting the nod for the Sangamam , a Division Bench comprising Justice V Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K V Jayakumar dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the event.
The court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure that no event is conducted on the banks of River Pampa in any manner that compromises its sanctity, whether by erecting permanent or temporary structures.
Observing that the rights, safety, and spiritual experience of ordinary Sabarimala pilgrims are paramount, the court said during the days of the conclave and throughout the preparatory work, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) shall ensure that none of the rituals, ceremonies, or related functions are disturbed or diminished to the detriment of the devotees.
Taking note of the invitee list and the expected presence of several eminent persons, including the chief ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and dignitaries from abroad, the court said the TDB shall ensure that the influx of such invitees does not in any manner impair the facilities or the spiritual experience of ordinary pilgrims.
Security arrangements or other logistical measures for accommodating these guests arriving for the event must in no way obstruct pilgrims’ access to the temple or disrupt their spiritual experience. “Under no circumstance shall the ingress or egress of the pilgrims be disrupted, whether on account of security arrangements or otherwise,” the court ordered.
The court also emphasized that there must be financial transparency in the funds used to hold the event, and issued various directions on this aspect.
The court also ordered the maintenance of detailed, transparent accounts of all expenditures, including travel and accommodation costs. It directed that the contributions received from sponsors must be audited and that a copy of the audit report must be submitted to the Special Commissioner Sabarimala within 45 days of the event, for placing it before the Court along with a report.
Additionally, the government and the TDB have been directed to prepare and execute a comprehensive crowd management plan, which should also ensure adequate parking facilities, so that the movement of the pilgrims remains unaffected.
The petitions, filed by devotees and religious bodies, had questioned the involvement of the state and the TDB in conducting the event. They raised concerns that temple funds may be used for the event, which could involve the participation of individuals opposing Sanatana Dharma.
The event, scheduled to be held at Pamba between September 16 and 20 as part of the TDB’s platinum jubilee celebrations, had sparked a controversy, with critics accusing the state of politicising the religious spaces and misusing temple funds.
BJP Kerala president Rajiv Chandrasekhar earlier cautioned Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK. Stalin against attending the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. He said both Vijayan and Stalin have over the years harmed and insulted Sabarimala, Ayyappa devotees and the Hindu faith. Vijayan has imprisoned many Ayyappa devotees, filed cases against them, unleashed police violence and done everything possible to violate and insult the rituals of Sabarimala, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.
Last week, Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan said that the United Democratic Front(UDF) will decide on participating in the Global Ayyappa Sangamam (Global Ayyappa Summit), being organized by the LDF government at Pampa on September 20, after the government answers three pertinent questions, including its role in the violation of centuries-old tradition at the Sabarimala shrine in 2018.
Senior Congress leader and former PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala said that the state chief minister should apologise to the Ayyappa devotees for violating the Sabarimala tradition, if he and the CPI-M is earnest in its course correction on issues like entry of women at Sabarimala shrine.