Erumeli's communal harmony gives Sabarimala pilgrims reason to cheer

EVERY year, when the Sabarimala pilgrimage season begins, 63-year-old A N Abdul Karim and his wife Shailaja dedicate themselves to a noble mission. They put aside all other obligations and relocate to the Koyikkakavu forest in Erumeli.

- ABHILASH CHANDRAN @Kottayam

EVERY year, when the Sabarimala pilgrimage season begins, 63-year-old A N Abdul Karim and his wife Shailaja dedicate themselves to a noble mission. They put aside all other obligations and relocate to the Koyikkakavu forest in Erumeli. Here, they set up a makeshift shed, along the traditional forest trek that connects Erumeli to Sabarimala, offering water and snacks to weary pilgrims. For Karim, a painter by profession, and Shailaja, this is a heartfelt service that transcends commerce.