Overview

• The Travancore Devaswom Board, with Kerala government association, will host the Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Pampa on September 20 as part of its 75th anniversary, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slated to inaugurate.
• Organisers describe the conclave as an apolitical, development-focused forum to draft a roadmap for Sabarimala, with roughly 3,000 delegates expected.
• The Nair Service Society and SNDP Yogam have extended conditional support after assurances of an apolitical organising committee and protection of traditional practices.
• The UDF has signalled non-cooperation, with Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan declining a meeting request from the TDB president, while the BJP demands withdrawal of cases from the 2018 protests and questions the government’s intentions.
• CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan called the women’s entry dispute a closed chapter, and TDB president P. S. Prasanth said the board will seek legal advice before presenting Sabarimala’s rituals and customs to the Supreme Court.