The Kerala High Court has directed the State government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure that the Global Ayyappa Sangamam planned at Pampa on September 20 does not affect the sanctity of the Sabarimala temple or Pampa River.The court ordered that the event must not disrupt devotees’ access to the temple, while ensuring that the sanctity of the Pampa river and the temple premises is preserved. In addition, all permanent and temporary structures related to the event must be strictly minimal and eco-friendly. It has also prohibited the use of plastic bottles, cups and other non-biodegradable. Any waste that is generated must be cleared immediately, while ensure that the Pampa remained clean.The organisers must also ensure that the presence of dignitaries such as the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, allied security measures and the presence of those from abroad does not affect ordinary pilgrims. No special privilege shall be extended to any participant. All participants must be treated solely as devotees of Lord Ayyappa, and no special benefit or priority shall be accorded, either for visiting the temple or for any related purpose. In addition, a proper and comprehensive crowd-management plan must be drawn up and scrupulously implemented, to ensure that parking facilities and the movement of ordinary pilgrims remained unaffected.A Division Bench of Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar issued these directions while considering a series of petitions filed by devotees and others alleging that it was more of a political event than a religious one. They contended that the hosting of the conclave with the stated objective of spreading the message of “Tat Tvam Asi” and presenting Sabarimala before the world as a spiritual, traditional and sustainable global pilgrim centre, fell wholly outside the secular duties of the government. By involving the TDB in the initiative, the government is compelling the Board to act in violation of and beyond the scope of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950. The government investing public funds for the propagation of “Tat Tvam Asi”, a core tenet of the Hindu faith, is patently unconstitutional, as the government has no legal authority to engage in or promote any religious activity. A political event is thus being masqueraded as a religious conclave, and political leaders, including those who are avowed atheists, have been invited to participate in the Sangamam, they said.Counter affidavitIn a counter affidavit, the TDB contended that the Global Ayyappa Sangamam is conceived as a unique spiritual, cultural, and developmental conclave organized by the TDB in cooperation with the State government. The event commemorates the Platinum Jubilee of the TDB and is expected to bring together approximately 3,000 Ayyappa devotees from across the globe. It is asserted that the primary objectives of the conclave include the participation of religious scholars and devotees from around the world, and the projection of Sabarimala as a Global Pilgrimage Centre, the Board said.The court observed that since the State has filed an affidavit clarifying that it is merely providing logistical and infrastructural support for the event, we find no reason to conclude that it is indulging in non-secular activities. At the same time, we expect the TDB to maintain transparent accounts for every paise received and spent, and the same shall be subject to statutory audit, the court added. Published - September 11, 2025 08:27 pm IST