The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has told the High Court that the 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam' is being organised to showcase Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage centre and to promote the universal message of Thathwamasi, which advocates for religious harmony and global unity. The TDB presented this statement in response to a legal challenge against the event.
According to the TDB's legal counsel, no public funds or money from the TDB's own resources will be used for the event. Instead, it is intended to be financed entirely through sponsorships.
The High Court noted that sponsorships must come from "verifiable and credible sources". Meanwhile, the state government has clarified that the event is being organised solely by the TDB and that its only role is to assist with crowd management. A government representative stated that a large crowd is expected, and police and other law enforcement agencies will be responsible for managing it effectively and without incident.
The court, however, observed that neither the petitioner nor the TDB had been able to clearly define the exact nature of the proposed event. A bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and VM Syamkumar said, "What we have been informed of are peripheral, which do not really explain the event fully."
The petition was filed by Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi, who claims that the event is political and hence it should not be permitted to use the name of Lord Ayyappa. The court has accepted the petition and set the case for a hearing on September 9.
Also read: Global Ayyappa Sangamam to aid development of Sabarimala: TDB
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