Govt fulfilled its responsibility for Sabarimala pilgrim season preparations Minister

Pathanamthitta (Keralam), Nov 5 (PTI) Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan on Thursday said the state government has fulfilled its responsibility for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season and that it is now up to the TDB to ensure the preparations are completed.

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K Jayakumar also said, "The renovation of the Aravana plant has been completed, and production will start from Thursday. We can now produce up to 3.5 lakh containers of Aravana daily. We expect to have 60-65 lakh containers when the season begins," he said.

'Aravana', a kind of payasam (sweetmeat) made from jaggery and rice, and 'Appam', a sweet rice-and-jaggery-based offering, are among the 'prasadam' distributed to devotees at the Ayyappa temple.

The Sabarimala pilgrimage season will commence on November 17.

Muraleedharan was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting to review the preparations for the pilgrimage season at Pandalam.

The minister said discussions on facilities at pilgrim centres were held at Pandalam, Chengannur and Erumely.

He said the chief minister has personally visited Pamba and reviewed the arrangements.

"Now, the entire responsibility rests with the Devaswom Board. We have completed the work entrusted to the government," he said.

Referring to the TDB president's assurance that there would be no shortage of facilities during the pilgrimage season, Muraleedharan said the board should ensure adequate availability of Aravana prasadam for pilgrims.

He said at least 75 lakh containers of Aravana would be required to meet the demand during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, adding that the existing stock of 30 lakh containers would be insufficient.

The minister said the board had earlier indicated that the renovation work at the Aravana manufacturing unit would be completed by November 1 and stressed that timely completion was essential to achieve the target.

He said the government would continue to review the arrangements in coordination with the board and wanted to work with the board rather than engage in any confrontation.

Muraleedharan added that the government has not, so far, felt that the board was failing to discharge its responsibilities, but said complete satisfaction would be possible only when Aravana and Appam were readily available to devotees.

Meanwhile, Jayakumar said most of the preparations undertaken by the board were nearing completion and expressed confidence that the remaining issues would be resolved before the pilgrimage season begins on November 17.

Revenue Minister AP Anilkumar also chaired a meeting in Pampa on his department's preparations for the pilgrimage season.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)