President Droupadi Murmu made a historic visit to the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Wednesday, becoming the first woman head of state to offer prayers at the renowned hilltop shrine.

She is only the second President of India to visit the temple; former President VV Giri had previously visited in the 1970s.

The President's visit is symbolically significant, coming years after a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a traditional ban on women of menstruating age (10-50) entering the temple. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan, who devotees regard as an eternal celibate.

BJP MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar hailed President Murmu's visit to Sabarimala. In a post on X, he wrote, "She is 67. She broke no rules, hurt no faith – she only honoured it. In doing so, she became the f

See Full Page