President Droupadi Murmu becomes first Indian President to carry the Irumudi at Sabarimala

In a historic first, President Droupadi Murmu carried the sacred Irumudi and offered prayers at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, completing all traditional rituals during her four-day state visit.

In a defining moment of faith and history, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday became the first Indian President to carry the sacred Irumudi and offer prayers at the revered Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. The visit, steeped in tradition and symbolism, took place during her ongoing four-day state tour.

The President reached Pampa Ganapati Temple early in the morning, where she performed the customary rituals, including the tying of the Irumudi, before proceeding to the hill shrine. She was accompanied by senior state officials and received by Kerala Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan, who described her pilgrimage as “a proud and devotional milestone for Kerala.”

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Murmu later travelled to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam in a special vehicle, where she offered prayers before the conclusion of the Noon Poojas. Her adherence to the temple’s traditional customs drew widespread admiration, especially given the shrine’s significance and long history of gender-related discourse.

However, her journey was not without incident. Earlier in the day, the President’s helicopter briefly sank into uncured concrete on a newly built helipad at Pramadam Stadium, Pathanamthitta. Officials attributed the mishap to rushed construction and recent rain, clarifying that there was no security lapse and that the President’s itinerary continued as planned after the aircraft was safely freed.

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Reacting to her visit, BJP National General Secretary Bandi Sanjay Kumar tweeted, “She is 67. She broke no rules, hurt no faith, she only honoured it. In doing so, she became the first President ever to carry the Irumudi and bow before Lord Ayyappa. Devotion doesn’t shout, it stands tall.”

She is 67.
She broke no rules, hurt no faith - she only honoured it.

In doing so, she became the first President ever to carry the Irumudi and bow before Lord Ayyappa.
Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu Ji’s visit to Sabarimala reminds us that devotion doesn’t shout, it… pic.twitter.com/v0saoEZwPJ

— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) October 22, 2025