Amid political row, TDB claims Global Ayyappa Sangamam to bring together devotees around the globe

Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of simmering political dissent over the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) chairman PS Prasanth on Monday clarified that it is being organised as part of the board’s diamond jubilee celebrations.  The BJP has expressed strong objections to the meeting, saying it was a display of the CPM's opportunistic politics. BJP state chief Rajiv Chandrasekhar has said that there will be intense protests if there is any attempt to misuse the faith of Ayyappa devotees. AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal has stated that Ayyappa Sangamam was a ploy by the CPM to appease devotees and that the government has a history of betraying believers.

The TDB chairman stressed that only devotees who have visited Sabarimala for three consecutive years and those who support the temple’s development will be permitted to attend the event. The board’s master plan for developing the Ayyappa temple will also be presented during the programme.

“A total of 800 people from Kerala, 500 from Tamil Nadu, 250 from Karnataka, and 750 from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are expected to attend the event. Registration is being done after verifying devotees’ visit history through the virtual queue portal. Only those who have visited the temple for at least three consecutive years, along with people who support the temple’s progress, will receive passes. In addition, 4,000 expatriates who registered through the virtual queue system have been shortlisted,” Prasanth said.

He added that the registration is open on the Sabarimala official portal.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Global Ayyappa Sangamam in Pampa on September 20. The official added that the budget for the event has not yet been finalised, as several committees are still being formed and arrangements are underway.

Apart from devotees, public representatives, spiritual leaders, and representatives of caste and community organisations such as NSS and SNDP have also been invited. The NSS has already extended support to the event despite the political controversy.

The controversy erupted after the LDF government invited Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The BJP objected strongly, questioning the decision to invite the DMK leader, whom they accused of insulting Hinduism. The party declared it would oppose the participation of both Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan, branding them atheists.

Meanwhile, the Haindaveeyam Foundation has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking to cancel the event. The devaswom bench of the court will consider the petition after the Onam holidays.