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Pamba: Ahead of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam (GAS) to be conducted on Sunday at the banks of holy Pamba river, the CPI(M) and its cultural off-shoots are all set to make the event a grand one with maximum participation where in all community leaders including the NSS and the SNDP be a part of the meet.
However, in a scathing attack made by opposition Congress party has raked up the gold platting missing case from the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum.
On Thursday, the organizers of the meet are expecting 3000 delegates to turn up for the event with Devaswom ministers from all south states to join the congregation.
Interestingly, the organizers have sent a clear directive to all members of the Malabar Devaswom Board to attend the meeting at Pamba.
The main venue will be set up on the banks of the Pampa, with seating for 3,500 delegates inside pandals erected using German technology. The PWD has already inspected the facilities and completed maintenance checks. The Sabarimala Master Plan will also be presented here, alongside discussions on environmental protection, sanitation, and welfare programmes.
Several prominent leaders and community representatives are expected to participate, including NSS vice-president Sangeeth Kumar, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, Sabarimala thantri Mahesh Mohanaru, Pandalam Palace secretary M R Suresh Varma, and KPMS leader Punnala Sreekumar. There will also be representatives from Araya Maha Sabha, Vilakkithala Nair Samajam, Brahmana Sabha among others as well as Sivagiri Mutt representatives.
“Aim to make Sabarimala a global pilgrimage center”: Devaswom minister
Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan said that Global Ayyappa Sangamam aims to transform Sabarimala into a global pilgrimage centre. The high-profile event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He said that a final meeting on the summit will be held at Pampa on Thursday. Approximately 5,000 people have registered to attend the summit, but the Board has decided to restrict participation to 3000.
Speaking in the Assembly, the minister said the central focus of the summit will be the future development of Sabarimala. He said that around 58 lakh devotees attended the last Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, and crowd management will be a key point of discussion at the summit.
The government is actively pursuing the development of a Sabari airport, with land acquisition procedures and discussions with the Central government currently underway. He said that the government has spent around Rs 70.37 crore on Sabarimala development since 2016.
As per estimates, the development of Sannidhanam alone will require Rs 778.17 crore in three phases until 2039.
