Prasadam shortage in Sabarimala triggers Keralam govt-Devaswom Board rift

A shortage of aravana payasam at Sabarimala has exposed differences between the Keralam government and the Travancore Devaswom Board, with Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan criticising the decision to limit sales to one tin per devotee.

Aravana payasam, made from red rice, jaggery and ghee, is the principal prasadam offered at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.

The Board attributed the shortage to a 45-day project to expand daily production capacity from around 2.5 lakh tins to 3.5 lakh tins ahead of the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, when demand can reach 4–4.5 lakh tins. It also said the Kerala High Court had been informed about the work.

Muraleedharan, however, said the project should have been undertaken when the temple was closed or alternative arrangements made for devotees.

“The government cannot sit idle. We cannot allow such experimentation to continue,” he said on Monday.

The minister questioned the Board’s argument that the work was necessary to prevent problems during the main pilgrimage season.

“Shouldn’t people who come to the temple before Mandalakala get aravana?” he asked, adding that the prasadam must remain available whenever the shrine is open.

The temple opened on September 16 for the monthly pooja and will close on Monday. Outside the main pilgrimage season, it usually opens for five days at the beginning of every Malayalam month.