Organise awareness campaign for pilgrims about Malikappuram temple, HC tells TDB

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) shall take steps to ensure that Sabarimala pilgrims refrain from throwing clothes on the roof of the Malikappuram temple, applying turmeric powder on its walls and rolling coconut around the temple, the Kerala High Court has directed.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) shall take steps to ensure that Sabarimala pilgrims refrain from throwing clothes on the roof of the Malikappuram temple, applying turmeric powder on its walls and rolling coconut around the temple, the Kerala High Court has directed.

A Division Bench of the court consisting of Justices Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralee Krishna issued the directive on the finding that such observances were not part of customary temple practices. The Bench also considered a report of R. Jayakrishnan, Sabarimala Special Commissioner, in this regard.

The TDB should request the pilgrims to avoid such practices at the Malikappuram temple. The board shall issue an advisory to the pilgrims on the Virtual-Q platform and also through print and visual media that these were not customary practices at the temple and should be avoided, the Bench directed.

The Bench ordered that photography and videography were prohibited at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, especially on the Pathinettampadi and at Thirumuttam, except for ceremonies and festivals. Photography and videography by pilgrims and vloggers were not allowed on the Pathinettampadi and at Thirumuttam, the court held.

The chief police coordinator, Sabarimala, informed the court that action would be taken against the police personnel involved in the photo shoot on the Pathinettampadi on November 24.