The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is planning certain curbs on taking photographs on the Ayyappa Temple premises at Sabarimala.
TDB president A. Padmakumar said taking photographs and videos of the sanctum sanctorum and posting them on social media had come to the notice of the board. He said video footages showing the rituals performed inside the sanctum sanctorum were found to have been spreading on social media sites and such issues should be addressed effectively.
He said a decision had been taken a few years ago restricting photography on the temple premises to seven important days a year.
Mr. Padmakumar said a token system would be introduced at Sabarimala soon for the pilgrims to keep their mobile phones in the safe custody of the temple authority till they return after the holy darshan from the temple.
He said the Kerala High Court too would be apprised of the matter.
Mr. Padmakumar said heads of various departments and the TDB would meet on a daily basis to review the arrangements for the Mandalapuja to be held on December 27.
However, Mr. Padmakumar said the board had no information on the reported decision of certain young women’s initiatives to undertake pilgrimage to Sabarimala on December 23.
Package for Chengannur
Mr. Padmakumar said the TDB would launch development project worth ₹18 crore for providing pilgrim amenities at Chengannur that had been identified as a major base camp of Sabarimala pilgrims.
He said the work on the proposed bridge across river Pampa, linking Pampa Hilltop with the Ganapati temple, would begin soon.
Mr. Padmakumar said the TDB would go ahead with the legal proceedings against those who had been engaged in misinformation campaign on the Aravana prasadom. The three-member monitoring committee on Sabarimala constituted by the constituted by the High Court too should intervene in the matter.
Thanka Anki procession
Mr Padmakumar said the procession carrying the Thanka Anki, golden attire of the presiding deity, for the Mandalapuja would set off from Aranmula on December 23.