Sabarimala Aravana Shortage: Urgent Move to Partially Reopen Aravana Plant Ahead of October Masa Poojas
PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has issued strict directions to address the shortage of Aravana prasadam at Sabarimala, instructing the contractor to make at least 12 stoves at the under-construction Aravana plant operational before the Thulam month poojas.
Aravana production was stopped after the Chingam month poojas to facilitate expansion of the plant’s production capacity. The steam-operated stoves were dismantled and flooring work was taken up as part of the renovation. However, the work has progressed slower than originally scheduled, contributing to the shortage during the Kanni month pooja.
The immediate shortage was aggravated by pilgrim numbers exceeding the Board’s estimates. The TDB had reportedly stocked around 3.25 lakh tins before shutting down the plant, but the unexpected increase in footfall resulted in the stock being rapidly depleted.
Work is now underway to construct an airtight roof using GI sheets at the plant. With only 22 days remaining before the temple opens for the Thulam month poojas, there is uncertainty over whether the renovation can be completed and sufficient production capacity restored within the available time.
The Board is working to make at least 12 of the plant’s existing 26 production units operational at the earliest, with efforts underway to resume Aravana production by October 7.
After the Thulam poojas, the TDB plans to further increase the plant's production capacity to 3.5 lakh tins a day and build a reserve stock of 70 lakh Aravana containers ahead of the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The capacity expansion is intended to prevent a repeat of the shortage when daily demand can rise substantially during the peak pilgrimage period.
Concerns Over Sabarimala Preparations
The Aravana shortage has also raised wider concerns over the pace of preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage season. The Sabarimala Special Commissioner has intervened in the matter, but concerns remain over the delayed completion of the Aravana plant renovation and other preparatory works.
The TDB had earlier planned to maintain a reserve stock of 70 lakh Aravana tins for the coming season. At the same time, several procurement and tender procedures remain pending or are yet to be finalised.
According to reports, tenders for essential materials including Aravana containers and flip lids have not been finalised. The Board currently has a reserve of about 40 lakh containers, while the procurement of additional containers and imported flip lids is also facing delays.
The tender process for jaggery, a key raw material for Aravana production, also began considerably later than in previous years. Reports indicate that the process started only on August 6, whereas such procurement procedures had previously begun as early as May.
The jaggery procurement has also come at a higher cost this year. The lowest bid reportedly stood at ₹46.86 per kg, compared with ₹39.35 per kg last year, resulting in an increase of ₹7.51 per kg.
Other Tender Procedures Under Scrutiny
There are also complaints regarding delays in tender procedures for shops and hotels at Sabarimala and Nilakkal, as well as procurement of items required for the pilgrimage season. Tenders relating to cardamom, ghee, Unniyappam and Modakam, among other requirements, have also come under scrutiny.
With the Mandala-Makaravilakku season approaching, concerns have been raised that delays in completing these procedures could affect preparations. The Board, however, has attributed some of the delay to changes introduced in the tendering system, including the shift towards e-tendering and e-auction procedures.
K. Jayakumar to Meet Chief Minister
Against this backdrop, TDB President K. Jayakumar is scheduled to meet Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday, September 23, following the recent differences between the Devaswom Minister and the Board over Sabarimala preparations.
Jayakumar had rejected the suggestion that there was a major crisis at Sabarimala, attributing the Aravana shortage primarily to the unexpectedly high pilgrim turnout during the Kanni month pooja. He said the plant was shut as part of a planned capacity expansion and that the additional production capacity would help meet the higher demand during the annual pilgrimage season.
The meeting with the Chief Minister is expected to provide an opportunity for the Board to present its position on the ongoing preparations, the Aravana plant renovation and the various tender-related issues ahead of the Mandala-Makaravilakku season.