Global Ayyappa Sangamam: Kerala High Court Seeks Clarity On Nature, Funds & Participation In The Event

The Kerala High Court put in various queries to the State government and the Travancore Devaswom Board to clarify the nature of the event that is proposed to be conducted as 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam', which is scheduled to be held on September 20.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering petitions that claimed that the event was a political and commercial one, veiled as one related to devotion, tourism and secular promotion.When the matter came up for consideration, the Bench put queries regarding the nature and objectives of the event, the role of the State government in the event, the funding and the criterion for selecting participants for the event. The Court further inquired, "For these 3000 people, are you fixing any sort of money constraints? It's optional for them? Is there any minimum contribution?"To these queries, the State answered that there is no minimum contribution to made by the participants and contributions are entirely voluntary. While the counsels for the petitioners argued that the role of the Devaswom Board is very limited and all the decisions are made by the government, the Advocate General representing the State submitted that the role of the government is only to provide assistance to the Board to conduct the event.With respect to the funding for the event, the petitioners urged that the name of Lord Ayyappa is being used to amass wealth and there is every likelihood of public money. However, it was opposed by the Government and the Board stating that the money for the event would not be taken out of the temple funds or from the Public Exchequer but only out of sponsorships for the event.The petitioners also pointed out that the invitees for the event included political leaders and not many spiritual ones. However, this was countered stating that there is no particular religion being promoted at the event but is one for communal harmony and to showcase Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage centre. It was also stated that one of the intentions of the event is to garner inputs regarding improvement of the pilgrimage centre.The Court orally asked, "Is there a core paper by which you stated your purpose and objectives for sangamam? Will you be generating waste? Whether there would be air conditioning? What is the nature of the construction...Will any privilege be given to those guests to the detriment of the devotees? How will you accommodate all 3000 people? Who are the invitees? What is the criteria?"As per the affidavit filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, the registration of the participants is through Virtual Q portal. The Indian devotees may send a mail to ayyappasangamam2025@sabarimalaonline.org whereas foreign devotees who have visited Sabarimala twice in the past three years have been enabled for direct registration.However, to this the petitioners responded stating that there is no paper prescribing criteria for selection and everyone who is sending emails have been given the same reply: 'Thank you for registering. Your registration is not a guarantee for participation. Devaswom Board holds the right…'Replying to the other questions, it was submitted that the rights of ordinary devotees would not be affected by the event.After hearing detailed arguments by the parties, the Court orally said that it would consider the counter affidavits filed by the respondents.Case No: WP(PIL) 109 of 2025 and connected casesCase Title: Adv. Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Global Ayyappa Sangamam: Kerala High Court Seeks Clarity On Nature, Funds & Participation In The Event

K. Salma Jennath

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