LPG shortage raises concern at Sabarimala during monthly poojas, annual festival
Sabarimala, Keralam: Amid an unprecedented shortage of LPG cylinders in the pilgrimage region, the famous Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple opened its doors for the five-day monthly poojas, with authorities racing against time to ensure that essential services for thousands of arriving pilgrims remain uninterrupted.
Officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the hill shrine, said that adequate stocks of LPG cylinders have been arranged for the immediate period even as measures are being taken to regulate usage and rely more heavily on steam-based cooking systems.
“Based on directions from the Pathanamthitta District Collector, a load of LPG cylinders was delivered at Pampa by Saturday afternoon itself,” a TDB official said, adding that the supply was rushed to stabilise the situation at the base camp.
Dependence on Steam Cooking
According to officials, most of the cooking undertaken by the devaswom board — including preparation of temple offerings and meals distributed under the annadanam programme — is carried out using steamers. As a result, the board’s direct dependence on LPG remains relatively limited.
However, LPG continues to be the primary cooking fuel for the numerous eateries operating within the Sabarimala pilgrimage zone, which serve to the large number of devotees visiting the shrine each day.
Earlier, the TDB had approached the district administration seeking urgent intervention to address the shortage during the temple’s open days. Following this request, the district collector directed the District Supply Officer to examine the issue and submit a report to the Supply Commissioner. Subsequently, emergency supplies of LPG cylinders were dispatched to Pampa.
Managing the Pilgrim Rush
The temple, which opened for the monthly poojas on Saturday evening, has permitted entry of 30,000 pilgrims on the first day and up to 50,000 on each of the remaining days through the virtual queue and spot-booking systems.
Apart from feeding devotees through the annadanam scheme, the TDB must also prepare meals for nearly 3,000 staff members stationed at Sannidhanam, adding further pressure on available cooking resources.
Despite the emergency supply, officials admit that the current stock is likely to last only for a short period if disruptions in LPG deliveries continue.
Concerns Ahead of Annual Festival
Devotee organisations have warned that the issue could escalate if normal supply chains are not restored soon.
“The situation may be manageable for now, but it could become difficult when the temple reopens on March 22 for the ten-day annual festival,” said by Devotee organisations. “Tens of thousands of devotees are expected then, and authorities will have to act on a war footing to ensure the shortage does not affect services.”
Impact on Pilgrimage Route
The shortage has already begun to affect businesses along the traditional pilgrimage routes. Several roadside eateries that usually operate during the monthly pooja days have remained closed due to the unavailability of LPG cylinders, leaving pilgrims with limited food options.
Pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala typically rely on eateries located in towns such as Erumeli, Kanamala, Naranamthode, and Laha. While some establishments reopened for the current pilgrimage period, many have been unable to resume full operations because LPG cylinders failed to reach them in time.
A few outlets have resorted to firewood for cooking, but most have drastically reduced their menus. Popular staples such as dosa and porotta have temporarily disappeared from many counters, underscoring the challenges created by the gas shortage during one of the region’s busiest pilgrimage periods.