Colombo, August 13: The Sri Lankan cabinet has formally recognised the annual pilgrimage undertaken by its nationals to the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine in Kerala, India.
The decision, announced in a cabinet statement on Tuesday, was taken during the weekly cabinet meeting held in Colombo on Monday. The move acknowledges a decades-old religious tradition, in which more than 15,000 Sri Lankan devotees travel to the hill shrine between November 1 and January 31 each year.
“For a long period, Sri Lankan devotees have been worshipping the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Kovil in Kerala, India, during the pilgrimage season,” the statement said, adding that the journey will now be officially recognised by the government.
The annual pilgrimage includes two major events – the Mandala Pooja festival, held between November and December, and the Makaravilakku festival, which takes place in January. The shrine closes for the season once the Makaravilakku concludes.
The recognition is expected to streamline travel arrangements, strengthen cultural ties between Sri Lanka and India, and provide additional support to pilgrims, many of whom make the journey as part of long-standing family and community traditions.