Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President P S Prasanth clarified on Wednesday that no new affidavit has been submitted to the Supreme Court regarding the contentious issue of women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple since the board’s 2016 filing, which sought to uphold the shrine’s traditional rituals and customs. Speaking to reporters in Pandalam, Prasanth dismissed the relevance of the 2016 affidavit, stating that it no longer reflects the current context as the matter remains under review by the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench.

The statement comes amid growing demands from the opposition Congress and BJP for the TDB to clarify its stance on allowing women of menstruating age (10-50 years) into the Lord Ayyappa temple, a practice traditionally restricted. Prasanth emphasized that over the past four to five years, the TDB has ensured strict adherence to all rituals and customs at Sabarimala, with no deviations reported. “Our focus is on preserving the sanctity of the shrine and ensuring a smooth pilgrimage experience,” he said.

The TDB president highlighted the success of the last annual pilgrimage season, which saw 54 lakh devotees visit the hill shrine without any major issues, thanks to coordinated efforts between the Kerala government, TDB, Pandalam royal family, and various organizations. Prasanth was in Pandalam to invite royal family members to the upcoming Global Ayyappa Sangamam, a TDB-organized event in collaboration with the state government on September 20, aimed at promoting the development of Sabarimala and fostering unity among devotees.

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The issue of women’s entry into Sabarimala has been a flashpoint since the Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict, which declared the ban on women of menstruating age unconstitutional, sparking widespread protests from traditionalists and devotees. The decision led to significant backlash against the CPI(M)-led LDF government, particularly after two women entered the temple in 2019, prompting criticism from Congress, BJP, and Sangh Parivar groups. With the case still pending before a larger bench, Prasanth’s remarks underscore the TDB’s cautious approach, prioritizing tradition and operational harmony as the debate continues to stir public and political discourse.

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