President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Woman President to Offer Prayers at Sabarimala Temple

On 22 October, President Droupadi Murmu made a historic visit to the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, becoming the first woman President of India to offer prayers at the revered hilltop shrine. She is only the second President to visit the temple, after VV Giri in the 1970s.

Key Highlights:

• Pilgrimage Traditions: Following customary rituals, President Murmu arrived at the Pamba base camp around 11 am, washed her feet in the Pampa river, and offered prayers at the nearby Lord Ganapathy shrine.
• Kettunira Ceremony: She participated in the ‘Kettunira’ ceremony, during which the melshanthi (head priest) prepared her ‘irumudikkettu’, the sacred bundle traditionally carried by devotees to the shrine.
• Significance: The visit marks a historic moment, highlighting both the spiritual importance of Sabarimala and the role of women in upholding religious traditions at the highest levels of the Indian state.