Sabarimala Onam Sadya: Devaswom Board Admits Lapses; Payasam to Be Included in Annadanam from Nov 15
Thiruvananthapuram: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President K. Jayakumar has admitted that there was some truth in Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan’s statement regarding the Onam Sadya controversy at Sabarimala.
Jayakumar, who had initially said that the minister had been misled by someone, changed his position after the TDB meeting and acknowledged that two different types of food were served at Sabarimala on Thiruvonam day.
He said Sadya was served at the staff mess, while devotees at the Annadhanam hall were served pulao. However, around 3,000 devotees who came for the pulao were also provided Sadya.
As part of the Annadhanam, no Sadya other than the staff meal had been arranged that day, Jayakumar said. Those who came for the Annadhanam were served either pulao or Sadya, depending on the arrangements.
The TDB president did not deny complaints that all devotees who arrived at Sabarimala that day could not get Sadya. He also acknowledged that Sadya was not served to the police personnel or the Melshanthi (chief priest) that day.
“There were shortcomings in the Sadya arrangements,” Jayakumar said, adding that the main issue was that the Board had arranged a Sadya specifically for employees this time.
“If there has been any lapse in this, it will be rectified,” he said.
Jayakumar also said that the Annadhanam at Sabarimala would include payasam from November 15.