Smooth Conduct of Sabarimala Pilgrimage Season Is Immediate Concern: K Jayakumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala chief secretary K Jayakumar, who is set to assume charge as president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), said on Saturday that his immediate concern would be ensuring the smooth conduct of the upcoming two-month Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, beginning on November 17.

Jayakumar, a former IAS officer, said he was informed of his selection for the post by state Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Friday at Thrissur. “An order will most likely be issued by Monday as today is a holiday,” he told reporters.

When reporters asked him whether taking charge of the post would be like putting on a "crown of thorns", Jayakumar dismissed the notion. “Not all crowns have thorns. It depends on how you wear it,” he said.

Jayakumar described his appointment as “unexpected” and noted that the timing was “odd,” as it comes just before the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season. He said that preparations for the pilgrimage would have already been made by the outgoing Board, and his role is to ensure that these plans are implemented effectively so devotees can have a smooth experience.

“That is what needs to be prioritised. We need to create the circumstances for the devotees to have a smooth darshan and return happily with a good experience,” he said.

While he declined to comment on the Sabarimala gold controversy, Jayakumar stated that during his tenure, he would take steps to prevent such issues from recurring. “That can be done gradually,” he added.

He also noted that although Sabarimala is an important responsibility, the TDB oversees several other temples under its jurisdiction. After taking charge, he intends to strengthen any weaknesses in the Board’s management and establish “an efficient, professional and accountable system” for managing the pilgrimage season in a way that benefits the devotees.

Jayakumar has previous experience at Sabarimala, having served as Devaswom Special Commissioner at the shrine for a year while in government service. After retiring as Kerala’s chief secretary, he became the founding Vice-Chancellor of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.