President Murmu to become first serving head of state to visit Sabarimala

Thiruvananthapuram: President Droupadi Murmu will visit the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Wednesday, becoming the first serving President to do so.

Four-wheel-drive vehicles have been arranged for her journey along the trekking path from Pamba to Sannidhanam, where she will offer darshan and perform aarti.

The Travancore Devaswom Board and police have made elaborate security arrangements for the visit, which comes amid an ongoing controversy over the alleged looting of gold from the temple’s plating.

Murmu will arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday for a four-day visit to Kerala.

According to an official statement, on October 23, the President will unveil the bust of former President K R Narayanan at Raj Bhavan, inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, and attend the Platinum Jubilee valedictory of St Thomas College, Palai.

On October 24, she will attend the centenary celebrations of St Teresa’s College, Kochi, before concluding her visit.