Sabarimala to host Agola Ayyappa Sangamam Tomorrow

Sabarimala: The Global Ayyappa Sangamam will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at 10 am on Saturday. Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan will preside over the function, which will be attended by ministers from various states, legislators, people’s representatives, and prominent personalities from the social and cultural spheres.

The main venue, a 43,000 sq. ft. German hangar pavilion at Pampa Manappuram, will host the inaugural and valedictory sessions. Seating arrangements have been made for 3,000 delegates, including representatives from abroad. The 2,400 sq. ft. stage, built four feet above ground level, includes a green room and an adjacent media facility.

Organisers said all structures were built in compliance with green norms, without disturbing the natural terrain. Two more pavilions on the hilltop, measuring 4,500 sq. ft. and 7,000 sq. ft, have been set up for panel discussions and dining. Another 7,000 sq. ft dining facility has been erected on the Pampa riverbank. An additional 2,000 sq. ft pavilion has been readied for an exhibition fair marking the Travancore Devaswom Board’s platinum jubilee.

The Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction is overseeing construction and waste management. The temporary structures will be dismantled after the event. Maintenance of sanitation facilities at Pampa has also been completed.

The summit will feature three parallel sessions on Sabarimala’s development. The first will focus on the Sabarimala Master Plan, covering infrastructure, environmental conservation, and pilgrim welfare. The second will discuss ‘Spiritual Tourism Circuits,’ exploring links between Sabarimala and other cultural centers in Kerala. The third will deal with ‘Crowd Management and Facilities,’ with police, health experts, and technology partners presenting new systems for pilgrim safety and service delivery.

Registration of delegates will begin at 6 am. The inaugural session will run from 9 to 11 am, followed by parallel sessions. After lunch, singer Vijay Yesudas will lead a musical programme. The summit will conclude with session summaries at 3.20 pm and the valedictory ceremony, after which delegates will be offered the opportunity for Sabarimala darshan.