No photography/ videography on Sabarimala Pathinettampadi: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Thursday observed that photography and videography cannot be permitted on Pathinettampadi, the famous 18 steps at the Sabarimala temple [Suo Motu v. State of Kerala & Ors.]..The observation came in the wake of a recent photoshoot done by police personnel on the steps raking up controversy and catching the attention of the High Court.In response to an order from the Court, the Chief Police Co-ordinator at Sabarimala filed an affidavit stating that action would be taken against all the police involved.A Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S deemed it fit to emphasise that photography and videography cannot be permitted on the steps or at the Thirumuttam (main courtyard outside the sanctum sanctorum)."Pathinettampadi (18 holy steps) and Thirumuttam of Sabarimala Sannidhanam are not places where photography or videography can be permitted by pilgrims, vloggers, etc.," the Court said in its order..However, the Court decided not to go into the details of the action taken against the police personnel, leaving it the Chief Police Co-ordinator's discretion..The order was passed in a suo motu case initiated by the Court to deal with issues relating to Sabarimala during the ongoing Mandala Makaravilakku festival season. The Court takes up the matter every day to address emerging situations. In the order passed on Thursday, the Court took note of a practice followed at the Malikappuram temple one of the shrines situated within the Sabarimala temple. During the last few years, pilgrims have been throwing clothes on the roof of the Malikappuram temple, pouring turmeric powder on the walls, and rolling coconuts around the temple.The Court said that this is not part of the customary practices of Malikappuram temple and that pilgrims should be advised to avoid such practices. The Court left it up to the Travancore Devaswom Board, under whose managements the temple falls, to issue an advisory to address the same."Since throwing clothes on the roof of Malikappuram Temple, pouring turmeric powder on the walls of that temple and rolling coconut around that temple are not part of the customary practices of Malikappuram Temple, the pilgrims should be requested to avoid such practices at Malikappuram Temple. It is for the Travancore Devaswom Board to issue an advisory to the pilgrims, in the Virtual-Q platform and also through print and visual media that throwing clothes on the roof of Malikappuram Temple, pouring turmeric powder on the walls of that temple and rolling coconut around that temple are not part of the customary practices of Malikappuram Temple, which should be avoided," the Court said in its order. .The matter will be taken up next on November 29. .[Read Order]