President Droupadi Murmu is set to become the first sitting President of India to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple in Kerala on May 19. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which oversees the temple's administration, confirmed her anticipated visit.

The President’s trip to the sacred hilltop shrine is part of a two-day tour of Kerala, during which she will also attend a private event in Kottayam district on May 18, reported India Today. Her journey to Sabarimala the following morning is expected to draw nationwide attention due to the religious and cultural significance of the temple.

According to TDB President PS Prasanth, preparations are underway, though the official itinerary has yet to be received. "According to the programme, which we have not got officially yet, she will be arriving at Kottayam on May 18 for a private function. On May 19 she is expected to reach the Nilakkal helipad area," Prasanth stated, as per IANS. 

From there, the President will either trek the 4.25-km uphill path from Pampa, like traditional devotees, or use the emergency road leading to the shrine — a decision that rests with the Special Protection Group (SPG), tasked with ensuring her security. "This decision must be taken by the SPG, and we will abide by it," added Prasanth.

Sabarimala Temple Pilgrimage

The Sabarimala temple, nestled in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 3,000 feet, is one of the most revered pilgrimage centers in India. Devotees typically embark on a 41-day period of penance before making the physically demanding trek, adhering to a strict lifestyle that includes wearing traditional black attire, observing celibacy, and consuming a pure vegetarian diet.

Currently, women and girls aged between 10 and 50 are restricted from entering the temple, a policy under ongoing legal and social scrutiny. The temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, remains accessible only on foot from Pampa, situated approximately 100 km from Thiruvananthapuram.