A Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. orally directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and other stakeholders to specify the nature of the event. It said that the TDB did not mean Ayyappa alone. If the TDB is organising the event, why call it Global Ayyappa Sangamam? Devotees’ resources cannot be used for this. Any event organised by the TDB must be spiritual and religious, the court said, cautioning about the need for transparency.
The court observations came on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi, a lawyer seeking a direction to restrain the State government and the TDB from conducting the event. He contended that the event is a ‘political one’ and hence cannot be allowed in the name of Ayyappa.
The TDB’s counsel submitted that the event is being conducted to “showcase Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage centre and to propagate the universal message of ‘Thathwamasi’ to promote religious harmony and global unity.” The event also coincides with the platinum jubilee of the establishment of the TDB. Moreover, no money for the event will be used from the public exchequer and from the resources of the TDB. It would be funded entirely through “sponsorships,” he said, sans specifically mentioning the nature of the sponsorship.
The senior government pleader informed the court that the event is being organised exclusively by the TDB and that the government was only offering support for crowd management. To this, the court said that neither side has informed it with precision about the nature of the proposed event. When the TDB said that they are attempting to showcase Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage centre, it can only be construed that they are promoting pilgrimage as a part of their obligations and duties under the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950.
Since the government states unequivocally that the event is being organised solely by the TDB, with the government only providing security/crowd management services, the entire responsibility for it ineluctably rests on the latter (the TDB). Further, the proposed event on the banks of the Pampa River can be allowed only with the highest sanctity, since Pampa is often referred to as the “Dakshina Ganga.” The TDB must explain and place on record every germane information regarding the event and its schedule. The issue of financing is crucial because “sponsorships,” as the TDB said, ought to be from verifiable and credible sources alone, the court added. Subsequently, a notice was issued to the respondents, and the case was posted for hearing on September 9.
In a state heading to two crucial elections, the ‘politics of faith’ appears to be emerging as a central element in political strategies, with the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, proposed to be organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) later this month, setting off an intense confrontation between the ruling LDF and the BJP.
While the Left Front views the Sangamam as an opportunity to rebuild its strained relations with Ayyappa faithful, especially in light of the protests it faced over the issue of entry of women at the Sabarimala shrine following a 2018 Supreme Court verdict, the BJP has sensed the opportunity to open a new front against the government. With the help of Sangh parivar groups, the BJP has set the ball rolling with a series of protests against the sangamam.
The Sabarimala Karma Samithi’s decision to organise a ‘Viswasa Sangamam’ on September 22 at Pandalam, two days after the Ayyappa Sangamam at Pampa, is part of this strategy. According to leaders of the Hindu Aikyavedi, a key constituent of the Karma Samithi, the Viswasa Sangamam will reveal the true intentions of the LDF government in organising the Ayyappa Sangamam. “While the government is inviting non-believers to Pampa under the guise of Ayyappa Sangamam, our objective is to amplify the voice of believers through a Viswasa Sangamam,” said E S Biju, state secretary of the Aikyavedi.
Meanwhile, authorities of Pandalam Palace, where the Karma Samithi plans to hold its gathering, have adopted a cautious approach. A member of the royal family articulated what they perceive as the double standard of the government on the Sabarimala issue. “If the government’s intentions are genuine, it should withdraw the cases against the faithful who protested to uphold the rituals and customs of Sabarimala over the women’s entry controversy,” a family member said.
However, the support of the Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, two important community organisations, has come as a major fillip to the government. The SNDP has openly backed the Ayyappa Sangamam, and the NSS has said that it will send a representative to the event. While the UDF remains uncertain about its position on the Ayyappa Sangamam, the LDF believes that the meeting will achieve its intended goals.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday termed the ‘Global Ayyappa Sangamam’, scheduled for September 20, as a ploy by the Kerala government to reap political dividends ahead of elections and posed several questions regarding the latter’s position in connection with the Sabarimala temple and its traditions. UDF chairman and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan, speaking to reporters after conducting an online meeting of the coalition on Tuesday, did not straightaway reject the invitation that had been extended by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), organiser of the Sangamam, but set forth conditions before deciding to commit to the event. Satheesan alleged that the CPI(M)-led government, which was in power during the Sabarimala agitation over women’s entry at the temple, was displaying hypocrisy towards Ayyappa devotees.
“The LDF government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court, opposing the traditions of the Sabarimala temple (over women’s entry issue), remains in the top court. Will the government withdraw it? Will the administration withdraw the wrongful cases filed against peaceful protesters during the agitation in 2018?” Satheesan asked.
The Congress leader alleged that the current government has not committed to long-term development projects for the welfare of the Sabarimala temple, in contrast to the previous Oommen Chandy government.
“The CPI(M) had claimed that it would not change its stand (on women’s entry at Sabarimala) even if the sky fell. It went on to form reformation committees and human chains across the state. Has that position changed now? For the past 9 years, the government or the TDB has not organised an Ayyappa Sangamam. With elections approaching, the Sangamam is being planned,” he said. He said the UDF would decide on whether to attend the Sangamam if the government provides answers to its questions, indicating that it would stay away from the event. The Congress leader’s remarks came a day after CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said that his party stood with Ayyappa devotees and that the matter of entry of women of all ages at the Sabarimala shrine was a ‘closed chapter’ for the state.
The Sangamam has been envisaged as an event for over 3000 delegates, mostly Ayyappa faithful, as part of the TDB’s platinum jubilee celebrations to create a future roadmap for the development of the Sabarimala shrine. Invitation to non-believers, Hindu bashers like T.N. CM Stalin, etc, has attracted a lot of criticism from Ayyappa devotees.
