Sabarimala to Discontinue Vedivazhipadu Offering; Forest Department Raises Concerns Over Firecracker Noise Disturbing Wildlife
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PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to discontinue the ‘Vedivazhipadu’ (firecracker offering) at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple, taking into consideration objections raised by the Forest Department. As part of the decision, the offering has been excluded from this year’s auction.
The Forest Department had pointed out that the regular sound of explosions could disturb wildlife, as Sabarimala is located within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Following these concerns, the TDB decided not to include Vedivazhipadu in the current auction.
The Devaswom Board has permission from the Chennai Controller of Explosives to store up to 500 kg of explosives. The licence issued by the District Collector also remains valid for the permitted period. The contractor had also undergone an examination conducted by the Explosives Controller’s office in Kochi and obtained the required certificate.
The building used to store the explosives is located in an area away from the regular movement of pilgrims. The Fire and Rescue Services and Police have inspected the facility and confirmed the safety arrangements. A team that conducts inspections to detect the illegal storage of explosives at quarries had also inspected the facility.
The decision to exclude Vedivazhipadu from the auction comes amid continued emphasis on protecting the wildlife and forest environment surrounding the Sabarimala pilgrimage centre.