The proposed “Global Ayyappa Sangamam” on the banks of the Pampa River on September 20 was approved by the Kerala High Court on Thursday, along with detailed guidelines to preserve the ecology and the sanctity of the Sabarimala shrine. Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and KV Jayakumar’s division bench was considering a plea alleging that the Travancore Devaswom Board, which oversees the Sabarimala shrine and other temples, was organising a political event masquerading as a religious assembly.
The HC made it clear that it did not believe the TDB was acting outside of its legislative authority. Referring to the broader development plan for the Sabarimala shrine situated within the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, the HC order stated, “The evident objective is to mobilise much-needed funds and obtain constructive inputs to streamline and implement the proposals embodied in the Master Plan.”
Presentations and panel discussions on the Master Plan, sustainability and resilience, spiritual pilgrimage circuits, and crowd and disaster management were among the topics covered at the one-day conclave, the TDB had told the court. The court stated that “such discussions would unquestionably contribute to the overall development, resilience, and infrastructural strengthening of the temple and its precincts if they yield actionable outcomes.”
The State government must, the court stated, rigorously carry out its responsibilities in “ensuring that such secular functions are carried out in a transparent and accountable manner.” “We find no reason to conclude that the State is engaging in non-secular activities, as the State has provided an affidavit specifying that it is only providing logistical and infrastructure support for the event.”
The State and the TDB’s claim that the event is largely supported by sponsorships and unpaid donations is likewise unquestionably true, the court said.
The HC division bench issued a number of directives in its order, including requesting that the TDB not jeopardise the sanctity of the Pampa River, make sure that no rituals at the Sabarimala temple are disrupted during the conclave, erect temporary structures that are as minimally intrusive as possible, forbid plastic products entirely, and ensure that the presence of the VVIPs and delegates at the event does not interfere with the regular pilgrims’ spiritual experience.