7 months ago
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A time aft President Droupadi Murmu visited the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple connected Wednesday (October 22, 2025), a contention has erupted implicit an alleged usurpation of temple protocol aft the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted a photograph of her praying astatine the Malikappuram Devi temple.
The image, shared connected the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s societal media account, showed the interior of the sanctum sanctorum arsenic good arsenic the idol. It instantly drew disapproval for revealing a ineffable abstraction not meant for nationalist display. Following the backlash, the Rashtrapati Bhavan deleted the station aboriginal successful the day.
But adjacent aft its removal, the contented snowballed into a societal media debate, with galore defending oregon opposing the photo. The contention intensified erstwhile a Deputy Superintendent of Police posted a WhatsApp presumption criticising the Rashtrapati Bhavan for “breaking traditions,” portion besides remarking that some the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress remained soundless connected the issue.
‘A violation’
Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) sources confirmed that the photograph amounted to a usurpation of accepted protocol, arsenic the representation appeared to amusement the deity’s face. “Further, if you look astatine the sojourn successful the airy of an earlier High Court bid not to inconvenience devotees, the VVIP’s accomplishment caused a important disruption to the pilgrimage connected October 21 and 22,” they noted.
When contacted, TDB president P.S. Prasanth said nary specified contented had officially travel to his notice. “It is not close to accidental that the pilgrimage was disrupted. Devotees were allowed to sojourn the elevation temple connected Wednesday soon aft the President’s departure,” helium said.
Meanwhile, Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom wide caput D. Vijayakumar expressed interest implicit the mode the President was taken to the hillock by motorcade. “But since each this was done with the support of the High Court, determination is nary country for a complaint,” helium pointed out.
‘No laid-down protocols‘
However, S.J.R. Kumar, wide convener of the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, maintained determination was thing incorrect successful utilizing a vehicle. “There are nary laid-down protocols connected however a devotee should ascent the hill. Such protocols are applicable lone from the 18 beatified steps that pb to the temple. Vehicles, including tractors and ambulances, person agelong been utilized betwixt Pampa and the Sannidhanam. It was lone aft a High Court involution that restrictions were imposed and not owed to immoderate temple custom,” helium explained.
