President Droupadi Murmu became the first woman president of India to visit and offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, Kerala, on October 22, 2025, during her four-day Kerala visit (October 21-24). She is only the second Indian president to visit the temple after V.V. Giri in the 1970s. At the Sannidhanam, President Murmu climbed the 18 holy steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum and performed darshan with the irumudikkettu (sacred bundle) on her head. She washed her feet in the Pampa River, offered prayers at the Ganapathy temple, and participated in the 'Kettunira' ceremony, dressed in a black saree, the customary colour of Ayyappa devotees.
President Droupadi Murmu Makes Historic Visit to Sabarimala Temple — First Woman President to Do So
AQuick answer
President Murmu became first woman president to visit Sabarimala; climbed 18 holy steps with irumudikkettu; only second president to visit after V.V. Giri.
Key facts
- President Droupadi Murmu became the first woman president of India to visit and offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, Kerala on October 22, 2025
- She is only the second Indian president to visit the temple after V.V. Giri in the 1970s
- Part of a four-day Kerala visit (October 21-24, 2025)
- Climbed the 18 holy steps to the sanctum sanctorum and performed darshan with the irumudikkettu (sacred bundle)
- Participated in the 'Kettunira' ceremony dressed in a black saree, the customary colour of Ayyappa devotees
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the symbolic significance of President Droupadi Murmu's October 2025 visit to Sabarimala Temple as the first woman President of India to do so.
Answer (50 words):
On October 22, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu became the first woman President to visit Sabarimala, only the second Head of State after V.V. Giri in the seventies. She climbed the eighteen holy steps with irumudikkettu and performed rituals at Sannidhanam, symbolising constitutional dignity, gender inclusion and the presidency's reach into popular devotion.
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Who was elected as the 15th Vice President of India in September 2025?
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C.P. Radhakrishnan won with 452 votes vs 300 for Justice Reddy; sworn in September 12, 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
What historic visit did President Droupadi Murmu make to Sabarimala temple?
President **Droupadi Murmu** made a **historic visit to the Sabarimala temple** in Kerala, becoming the **first woman President of India to visit Sabarimala**, a significant pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
Why is Sabarimala temple historically associated with entry restrictions?
**Sabarimala** had a historic tradition of **restricting entry of women of menstruating age (10-50 years)**, which was challenged by the 2018 Supreme Court ruling allowing all women to enter. The entry restriction had been a subject of prolonged legal and social controversy.
What is the significance of President Murmu's visit to Sabarimala?
President Murmu's visit as **India's first woman President and a tribal leader** carries deep symbolic significance, representing both constitutional authority and the inclusion of women and marginalised communities in sacred traditions and national life.
Where is Sabarimala temple located?
**Sabarimala temple** is located in the **Periyar Tiger Reserve forest, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala**, atop the Sabarimala hill at an altitude of about 914 metres. It is one of the largest Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world.
Who is Lord Ayyappa and what is the Sabarimala pilgrimage about?
**Lord Ayyappa** is a Hindu deity believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini (Vishnu's female avatar). The **Sabarimala pilgrimage** involves 41 days of austerity, celibacy, and a trek through the Western Ghats forests to the hilltop temple.
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