President Droupadi Murmu Begins Four-Day Official Visit to Kerala; Sabarimala Imposes Strict Restrictions
Thiruvananthapuram: President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Kerala today for a four-day official visit. The President landed at Thiruvananthapuram Airport at 6:20 PM and was warmly received by Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The President will be staying at the Raj Bhavan for the night.
The President is scheduled to visit Sabarimala tomorrow. She will arrive at the Nilakkal helipad at 10:20 AM and then proceed to Pamba by road. The Irrigation Department has made special arrangements near Triveni Bridge for cleansing feet, a ritual that replaces the traditional Pamba bathing for her visit. After preparing the Irumudikkettu at Pamba Ganapathi Kovil, the President will depart for Sannidhanam at 11:10 AM in a four-wheel-drive Gurkha emergency vehicle, accompanied by an escort of six vehicles. She is expected to reach Sannidhanam at 11:50 AM and have Darshan of Lord Ayyappa by ascending the sacred Pathinettam Padi at 12:20 PM. Following the Uchapooja and a period of rest at the Devaswom guest house, the President will return to Nilakkal by 3:00 PM and then fly back to Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter at 4:20 PM. Although Governor Rajendra Arlekar and his wife Anagha had initially planned to accompany the President to Sabarimala, their participation was foregone due to security considerations.
In light of the President’s visit, stringent restrictions have been placed on pilgrims at Sabarimala today and tomorrow. Only 12,500 pilgrims were granted access via the virtual queue today. Police have instructed those currently at Sannidhanam and Pamba to descend the hill after noon. For tomorrow, the day of the President’s Darshan, no virtual queue bookings have been permitted. Tomorrow evening, the Governor will host a dinner for the President at a five-star hotel in the capital. The guest list includes approximately 150 dignitaries, such as the Chief Minister, state ministers, former President Ram Nath Kovind, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, and Union Ministers George Kurian and Suresh Gopi.
On October 23, at 10:30 AM, President Murmu will unveil a statue of former President K.R. Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan. The Governor, Chief Minister, and Leader of the Opposition are slated to attend this ceremony. Subsequently, at 11:55 AM, the President will depart by helicopter for Varkala to inaugurate the centenary celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru Maha Samadhi at Sivagiri at 12:50 PM. Lunch will be served at Sivagiri. Later, at 3:50 PM, the President will arrive by helicopter at Pala St. Thomas College ground to inaugurate the concluding ceremony of the college’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at 4:15 PM. Following the event, she will travel to the Taj Resort in Kumarakom at 6:20 PM for an overnight stay.
On the final day of her visit, October 24, the President will depart from Kottayam by helicopter to Kochi at 11:00 AM. After a reception at Kochi Naval Airport at 11:35 AM, she will proceed by road to Ernakulam St. Teresa’s College to attend its centenary celebrations at 12:00 PM. Lunch and a period of rest are scheduled for 1:10 PM at Bolgatty Palace. In the evening, at 3:45 PM, the President will fly by helicopter from the Naval Air Station to Kochi International Airport, where she will board a special flight for her return to Delhi at 4:15 PM.