Thiruvananthapuram: Discarding clothes in Pamba River after visiting Sabarimala Temple is not a religious ritual but a malpractice, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K Jayakumar said. He was speaking during the launch of the magazine Sabarimala Sandesh at the TDB headquarters in the state capital on Thursday.He urged pilgrims to strictly avoid practices such as burning camphor in front of vehicles and carrying shampoo in plastic covers. All devotees have a responsibility to preserve Sabarimala as a sacred pilgrimage centre, he said.The TDB should have a mechanism to address complaints from pilgrims as and when they arise instead of waiting until the end of the pilgrimage season, Jayakumar said. A two-way communication system should be put in place to facilitate this, he added.He also stressed the need to ensure that pilgrims from other states receive accurate information about Sabarimala and its customs.Jayakumar said a significant proportion of pilgrims come from outside Kerala, and many may not be familiar with the traditions followed here. The newly launched Sabarimala Sandesh magazine would help disseminate information on the temple’s customs and practices, including the restriction on the entry of women between ages 10 and 50, he said.The magazine was launched as part of the Sabarimala Vision Plan 2026 by devaswom minister K Muraleedharan. He also inaugurated the Sabarimala Devotee Outreach Programme. Devaswom department secretary M G Rajamanickam received the first copy.Muraleedharan said the world was keenly following developments at Sabarimala, which has emerged as a global pilgrimage centre. TDB’s initiative to communicate directly with devotees and provide them with authentic information was commendable, he said.
