New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu made a historic visit to the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala this week, becoming the first woman head of state to offer prayers at the renowned hilltop shrine. She is only the second President of India to visit the temple; former President VV Giri had previously visited in the 1970s.
The president's visit is symbolically significant, coming years after a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a traditional ban on women of menstruating age (10-50) entering the temple. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan, whom devotees regard as an eternal celibate.
Dressed in a black saree, the President participated in the 'Kettunira' ceremony, where the melshanthi (head priest) prepared her 'irumudikkettu' — the sacred bundle devotees carry to the shrine. Her son-in-law, Ganesh Chandra Hombram, and other staff members also prepared their own sacred bundles.
Carrying the sacred bundle on her head, she then climbed the 18 holy steps to the main sanctum sanctorum. She had 'darshan' of Lord Ayyappa, after which her 'irumudikkettu' was taken by the head priest for pooja.
