TDB urges devotees to defer Sabarimala visit amid heavy rain

The Travancore Devaswom Board and Pathanamthitta district administration urged devotees to postpone visits to Sabarimala for the Niraputhari ritual due to heavy rain, flooding, landslide risks and security concerns, suggesting alternative pilgrimage dates later in August

Pathanamthitta (Kerala): The TDB and the Pathanamthitta district administration on Saturday advised devotees to avoid visiting Sabarimala for the Niraputhari ritual on Sunday and Monday in view of extremely heavy rain and the flood situation.

In a statement, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) urged devotees who planned to visit the hill shrine during the two-day opening of the temple for the annual Niraputhari ritual to postpone their pilgrimage as far as possible, keeping safety in mind.

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The district administration here also appealed to devotees to reconsider their visit, citing heavy rain, flooding in the Pampa river, the possibility of landslides and the security alert issued in the region.

The TDB said devotees could instead plan their pilgrimage during the temple opening for the Malayalam month of Chingam from August 16 to 21 or during the Onam festival poojas from August 24 to 28. The advisory comes as heavy rain continues to batter parts of Kerala, triggering flooding and increasing the risk of landslides in several districts.