Ayyappa Summit - A model yagna

Total devotion is the merging of the soul with the deity, where only joy and spiritual harmony remain. When the mind unites with the divine, it embodies the Advaita principle that the entire universe is but a manifestation of the supreme. Nowhere else in the world, except at the Sabarimala Sri Dharma Sastha Temple, can one witness this profound union of devotee and God, where every pilgrim becomes one with the divine. Within this sacred space, every prayer and greeting echoes with a single call-“Ayyappa.” It is at this holy abode, with the backing of the state government and under the stewardship of the Travancore Devaswom Board, that the Global Ayyappa Summit will be held tomorrow.

The event, organised as part of the Travancore Devaswom Board’s platinum jubilee celebrations, is being realised at Pampa after delays due to objections, disputes, and legal proceedings. A total of 3,250 registered representatives will take part- this includes the first 3,000 people who registered and 250 devotees who had the highest number of virtual queue bookings. Authorities have not disclosed the number of women registered, likely to avoid sparking new controversies, even though women of all ages are permitted to attend. About 500 delegates from 16 countries will also participate. The summit is not just a gathering of devotees but also the first major platform to discuss better facilities and smoother pilgrimage experiences for Ayyappa devotees, making it both significant and exemplary.

The main venue of the summit has been set up on a 30,000 sq. ft. area where the Ramamoorthy Mandap once stood before it was washed away in the 2018 floods. In addition, Saketham Auditorium and a hilltop pavilion will also host sessions. Accommodation, food, basic facilities, and security arrangements for delegates were completed two days in advance. Since this is the first large-scale gathering of devotees at Kerala’s biggest pilgrimage centre, Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, along with Devaswom officials, the district collector, and a dedicated team of officers, has been closely monitoring every detail to avoid even the slightest lapse.

As the program is being conducted with government support, the ruling side has also taken extra care to prevent political controversies- an approach that deserves appreciation. Sabarimala is not just known as a Hindu pilgrimage site but as a sacred land of communal harmony. There were several attempts to block the Ayyappa Summit from the beginning, even reaching the Supreme Court, citing environmental concerns. However, the Court finally allowed the event to proceed in line with High Court directions and conditions. The Global Ayyappa Summit should not be tied to the controversies often linked with the Sabarimala temple. Instead, it must be seen as a unique mission to include devotees in the development activities of one of the world’s most visited and revenue-generating temples. The summit is expected to set a new model for the development of pilgrimage centres.