Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday sent his greetings to the “global ayyappa sangamam” at a time when the Kerala BJP has boycotted the state government-backed event held in Pamba.
Kerala temple affairs minister VN Vasavan started the inaugural session by reading out Adityanath’s message. “Dear VN Vasavanji, I am thankful for the invitation to attend the agola (global) ayyappa sangamam on September 20, 2025 at Pamba in commemoration of the platinum jubilee of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Lord Ayyappa is the divine protector of dharma. His worship illuminates the path of righteous living and inspires the devotees to promote and preserve sattvic values and strengthen harmony and inclusivity. It is necessary to spread ancient Indian wisdom and traditions. In this perspective, the ayyappa sangamam assumes much significance and this conclave will be successfully achieving its objectives.”
Adityanath’s message has come at a time when the BJP and Sangh Parivar organisations have come out against the event, questioning the political motive of the CPM government.
As a counter to the Pamba event, the Sangh Parivar organisations – under the banner of Sabarimala Karma Samithi – are conducting a conclave at Pandalam on September 22. Tamil Nadu’s former BJP state president, K Annamalai, has called the event “Sabarimala Protection Sangamam’’. Around 1,000 delegates are expected along with the erstwhile Pandalam royal family.
Karma Samithi general convener SJR Kumar said they have also invited the UP CM. “Yesterday, he sent a message to us wishing for our event on September 22. He is unable to attend our event due to his official schedule,’’ he added.
The BJP and the Congress have questioned the political motive behind the conduct of the sangamam. Both the parties wanted the government to first withdraw criminal cases registered against devotees in connection with protests held at the 2018 Sabarimala protests when the government tried to implement the Supreme Court verdict.
Another joint demand is that the Left government must withdraw its affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting the entry of young women.
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Although Congress and BJP have kept away from the event, prominent Hindu outfits Nair Service Society and SNDP Yogam have taken part.
In 2018, NSS had spearheaded the agitations against the entry of young women while the state government stood in favour of it.
Although the state government had claimed that 3,000 devotees would take part in the one-day event in Pamba, only around 1000 persons, a chunk of them employees of organiser Travancore Devaswom Board, were in attendance.
Referring to the “poor turnout” in the summit, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “The poor participation shows that devotees have rejected the programme. Devotees have recognised the political drama,” he said.
