Kerala Sadya to Welcome Sabarimala Pilgrims This Season
Thiruvananthapuram: Sabarimala pilgrims will now be welcomed with a traditional Kerala meal featuring steaming payasam, crisp pappadam, and a proper sadya. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to replace the earlier menu of pulao and sambar with a meal that better reflects Kerala’s food culture.
Officials said the idea is to offer devotees a warm, familiar meal after their long climb to the hill shrine. The new menu will include payasam rich with ghee, crunchy pappadam, and a full traditional meal served on a plantain leaf.
TDB president K. Jayakumar explained that serving pulao and sambar during annadanam was not ideal for the pilgrimage. The updated sadya-style menu is meant to match the cultural and spiritual significance of the Sabarimala experience.
“Annadanam is funded by contributions from devotees, not by the Devaswom Board. This money must be used to provide good food for Lord Ayyappa’s pilgrims,” Jayakumar said after a board meeting.
He added that instructions have already been given to the officials concerned, and the new menu is expected to be implemented by Wednesday or Thursday. A review meeting will be held on December 18 to discuss the Sabarimala master plan and decisions for the next pilgrimage season, which will begin preparations by February 2026.
Jayakumar noted that although there were some issues at the start of the current season, the situation at Sabarimala is now under control.
Food Safety Teams Increase Checks for Pilgrimage Season
With lakhs of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala in the coming weeks, the Food Safety Department has tightened checks to ensure the quality of food and beverages along the pilgrimage route.
During the first week of the Mandala Makaravilakku season, officials inspected 350 establishments, and 60 of them were found with deficiencies. Notices were issued to these outlets to correct the issues.
Food safety teams are now working round the clock at Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilakkal, as well as key points like Erumeli.
Labs at Sannidhanam and Pampa are testing the quality of appam, aravana prasadam, and the raw materials used. A mobile “Food Safety on Wheels” unit is collecting samples at Nilakkal and Erumeli.
Food items are also being tested at the District Food Safety Lab, Pathanamthitta, with more detailed analysis done in Thiruvananthapuram.
Awareness programmes, licence registration camps, and pamphlets in six languages have been distributed. Pilgrims can report food-related complaints through the department’s toll-free number.