President to visit Santhigiri ashram on Thursday

T’PURAM: President A P J Abdul Kalam, who is visiting the state this week, will interact with the inmates of Santhigiri Ashram, Pothencode, and students of Siddha Medical College and Santhigiri Ayurvedic College run by the Ashram on September 21, Asram officials said on Sunday.

The President will arrive at the ashram, some 25 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, at 8 pm. He will offer floral tributes at the Parnasala and also meet Janani Amrita Njana Thapaswini, a senior nun, ashram general secretary Swami Chaithanya Njanathapaswi, told a press meet here.

“It is a great honour for us. It is the first time that an Indian President is visiting the ashram,” he said. Representatives of the ashram had met the President on six occasions.

He had also advised them on the implementation of Karunyam, a charity programme instituted by the Ashram, Chaithanya Njanathapaswi said.

The annual Poorna Kumbhamela organised by the ashram will be held on September 20 at Pothencode, he said. Around 2000 devotees are expected to participate.

Ashram directors Swami Gururathnam Njanathapaswi, Swami Nirmohathma Njanathapaswi and Rajeev Anchal were also present at the press conference.