Devaswom Minister presses Travancore Devaswom Board on aravana supply and the delayed jaggery tender
20 October 2026
Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan conveyed the government's displeasure over supply shortages and procurement delays to Travancore Devaswom Board president K. Jayakumar ahead of the Mandala Makaravilakku season.
Aravana and appam ran short when the temple opened for the Kanni month pooja in September.
The aravana plant was suspended for renovation without an adequate buffer stock, although the maintenance was known in advance.
The jaggery tender was due to start in May but was initiated only in August, and fresh bids and price negotiations delayed the contract while jaggery prices rose.
The Board will bear the cost of transporting jaggery from Pampa to the sannidhanam this season.
Only seven aravana counters were partly working on Monday, 19 October 2026, and about 50,000 people entered through the virtual queue that day.
After the discussion the Board agreed to speed up measures for an uninterrupted aravana supply through the season.
In plain words
Aravana Aravana payasam — The rice and jaggery offering sold in sealed tins to pilgrims at Sabarimala.
Mandala Makaravilakku Mandala Makaravilakku season — The main Sabarimala pilgrimage season running from November into January.