Sabarimala Sees Big Rise in Revenue This Pilgrimage Season
The Sree Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has recorded a major increase in income during the first 15 days of the annual Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The temple collected ₹92 crore, which is 33% more than the ₹69 crore earned during the same period last year.
A large share of this revenue came from the sale of aravana, which brought in ₹47 crore—a 47% jump from last year’s ₹32 crore. Income from appam remained almost the same at ₹3.5 crore.
Offerings made in the temple’s hundi (kanikka) also increased, rising from ₹22 crore last year to ₹26 crore this season—an 18% rise.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said the temple has seen heavy crowds since the season began, with around 13 lakh pilgrims visiting Sabarimala up to November 30.
The Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season will end in January 2026.