In a moment steeped in tradition and transformation, President Droupadi Murmu became the first woman head of state to offer prayers at the revered Sabarimala temple on October 22, 2025.
Her visit, part of a four-day official tour of Kerala, comes years after the Supreme Court’s landmark 2018 ruling that lifted the ban on women of menstruating age entering the shrine.
Dressed in the customary black saree, President Murmu followed the pilgrimage rituals with reverence: washing her feet in the Pampa river, participating in the Kettunira ceremony, and carrying the sacred Irumudi bundle on her head as she ascended the 18 holy steps to the sanctum sanctorum.
President Droupadi Murmu performed Darshan and Puja at the Sabarimala Temple. She prayed before Lord Ayyappa for the well-being and prosperity of fellow citizens. pic.twitter.com/moJxzBS28h
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 22, 2025
Welcomed by temple priests and state officials, Murmu’s darshan of Lord Ayyappa was both personal and political—a quiet assertion of faith, dignity, and constitutional equality. BJP MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar praised the President’s gesture, noting, “She broke no rules, hurt no faith—she only honoured it.”
Her visit was conducted under tight security, with restricted entry for other devotees during the ceremonial proceedings. The Travancore Devaswom Board confirmed that all traditional protocols were upheld.
This historic moment not only reaffirms the evolving role of women in public and spiritual life but also underscores the President’s commitment to inclusive representation and cultural respect.
