President Droupadi Murmu traveled to Sabarimala temple on Wednesday and became only the second Indian president to worship at the shrine. She prepared ritual offerings at Pamba Ganapathi Temple before riding up the mountain in a vehicle convoy that bypassed the traditional walking path. The chief priest welcomed her with sacred ceremonies as she carried the offering bundle up 18 steps to the deity.
Weather forced officials to change her helicopter landing site from Nilackal to Pramadom Stadium, where local lawmakers greeted her arrival. State religious affairs minister V.N. Vasavan accompanied the president, while the governor stayed behind because of the route change. Temple administrators closed the site to other visitors until she completed her prayers and departed for the capital city. President V.V. Giri visited the temple five decades earlier as the first head of state to make the pilgrimage.
