Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 21 (UNI) President Droupadi Murmu will arrive in Kerala this afternoon for a four-day official visit from October 21 to 24, featuring a series of significant spiritual, cultural, and educational engagements across the state.
The President is scheduled to land at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at 2.30 pm aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft. She will be received by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. During her stay in the state capital, President Murmu will be accommodated at Raj Bhavan.
On October 22, President Murmu will embark on a spiritually momentous pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple, becoming the first sitting President of India in recent decades to offer prayers at the iconic hill shrine. The last Presidential visit to Sabarimala was by V.V. Giri during his tenure.
She will arrive by helicopter at Nilackal around 10.20 am, proceed by road to Pampa, and perform the Irumudikkettu ritual at the Ganapathi Temple. The President will then ascend to Sannidhanam in a Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on a Gurkha jeep, accompanied by a limited security convoy in accordance with the Blue Book protocol.
President Murmu is expected to have darshan at the temple around noon and will witness the Uchha Pooja before resting briefly at the Devaswom Guest House. She will descend to Nilackal by 3 pm and return to Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter at 4.20 pm.
Extensive security arrangements have been put in place by the Special Protection Group (SPG), Kerala Police, and central intelligence agencies. The Travancore Devaswom Board has suspended virtual queue bookings for devotees on October 21 and 22, and access to Sannidhanam will remain restricted during the Presidential visit. The TDB has also confirmed that all religious rituals associated with the visit will be duly observed.
Later on October 22, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will host an elaborate state dinner in honour of President Murmu at a five-star hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. The event, designed as a ceremonial highlight of the visit, will be attended by over a hundred distinguished guests representing diverse spheres of public life.
The exclusive guest list includes Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state ministers, MPs, MLAs, senior bureaucrats, community and religious leaders, and eminent personalities from various sectors. Adding further prestige to the evening, former President Ram Nath Kovind and Bihar Governor (and former Kerala Governor) Arif Mohammed Khan will also be in attendance, alongside union Ministers George Kurian and Suresh Gopi.
The Raj Bhavan and surrounding areas have undergone extensive beautification and maintenance works ahead of the high-profile event. While visiting dignitaries such as former Presidents and Governors traditionally stay at Raj Bhavan, both Kovind and Arif Mohammed Khan will be accommodated at a hotel, as President Murmu will be residing at the Governor’s official residence.
On October 23, President Murmu will unveil a statue of former President K.R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan at 10.30 am. The ceremony will be attended by national and state leaders, including the Governor, Chief Minister, and Opposition Leader. The initiative to install the statue was first proposed by former President Ram Nath Kovind during his stay at Raj Bhavan, when Arif Mohammed Khan served as the Kerala Governor.
At 12.50 pm, the President will travel to Varkala to inaugurate the centenary celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru’s Mahasamadhi at Sivagiri Mutt. The event marks the official commencement of a two-year global observance of the Guru’s life and teachings, jointly organised by Sivagiri Mutt, the Government of India, and the Government of Kerala.
The celebrations will focus on the Guru’s timeless message of “One Caste, One Religion, One God for Humanity”, highlighting his monumental role in promoting social reform, equality, and spiritual enlightenment.
Following the Sivagiri programme, President Murmu will travel to Pala by helicopter to inaugurate the valedictory of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of St. Thomas College at 4.15 pm. She will then proceed to Kumarakom, where she will stay overnight at the Taj Resort.
On October 24, the final day of her visit, the President will fly from Kottayam to Kochi at 11 am to attend the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, scheduled at 12 noon. The event will underline the themes of women’s education and empowerment, which have been key areas of focus throughout her public life.
Following the programme, President Murmu will attend a luncheon at Bolgatty Palace and rest briefly before departing from the Kochi Naval Air Station to Cochin International Airport at 3.45 pm. She will board a special IAF flight at 4.15 pm, concluding her four-day Kerala tour and returning to New Delhi.
All venues across the state have been placed under multi-layered security cover, with coordinated arrangements for traffic management, public access, and ceremonial protocol. District administrations and the police have conducted joint review meetings under the supervision of District Collector Anu Kumari to ensure the smooth conduct of the President’s itinerary.
This marks President Droupadi Murmu’s second visit to Kerala, following her earlier trip in March 2023. Her present visit — blending devotion, culture, and education — underscores Kerala’s spiritual heritage and social inclusiveness, while reaffirming her enduring commitment to women’s empowerment and national unity.
