International pilgrims urge safer, cleaner and more inclusive Sabarimala

Balasubrahmaniam, who runs a South Indian restaurant chain in Canada, has been undertaking pilgrimages to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple long before he permanently moved out of India in 1987.

Now 80, Balu, as he is fondly called, continues to visit the hill shrine multiple times a year, even keeping a car in Chennai exclusively for this purpose. “It has been a long time, and so much has changed in and around the hills,” he says, speaking from Pampa, where he had come to attend the Global Ayyappa Sangamam organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Saturday.

Despite Sabarimala’s transformation into a global pilgrimage centre, Balu’s memories highlight how much remains to be done. “When I first came here in 1967, there were hardly ten people around,” he recalls. He remembers a night spent alone on the bare floor in the heart of the forest at Pampa, when tales of prowling tigers kept pilgrims on edge. “The locals reassured me, saying, ‘Lord Ayyappa will take care of you,’” he says, smiling at the memory.

Today, while pilgrims throng the shrine in large numbers, Balu sees pressing issues that need attention. “The Pampa river was once a serene stretch with a sparkling sand bed covered with pebbles. Now, it is slippery and unsafe to walk along. Restoring the Pampa to its former glory should be a priority,” he urges.

Equally troubling is the management of the free meal programme. Fed up with its current inefficiencies, Balu plans to donate an idli-making machine worth ₹20 lakh to the TDB, capable of producing 5,000 idlis an hour. “It’s not just about the quantity,” he stresses. Quality and the attitude of those who serve matter equally,” he stresses, noting that he intended to present these suggestions during the conclave.

“The quality and the attitude of those serving the meals matter just as much, ” he said, adding that these issues would be brought to the attention of the authorities concerned during the discussions as part of the conclave.

For Kanmani Dhanasekhar, an immigration consultant who joined Balu on this pilgrimage, visiting Sabarimala is also about enhancing the overall experience of the shrine. “Cleanliness must be a top priority,” she says, her concern evident. “If Sabarimala truly wants to be recognised as a global pilgrimage destination, hygiene has to be maintained at every corner. Sadly, that is not the case right now.”

She also highlights a pressing need for women pilgrims. “Despite the increasing number of women, especially elderly devotees, the facilities remain insufficient to meet their requirements,” she adds.